Robert Aderholt condemns Holy Week attacks on Christians in Nigeria: ‘No one should face violence and death for their faith’

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April 3, 2026

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is sending a message during Holy Week that attacks against Christians around the world shouldn’t be tolerated.

Aderholt, Chairman of the House Values Action Team (VAT), joined other members of team in Congress in condemning the recent attacks against Christians in Nigeria.

“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that more than thirty Christians were murdered in the city of Jos, the largest city in Plateau State. We deeply condemn these atrocities, as no one should face violence and death for their faith,” they said in a statement. “The continued brutal persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a moral outrage, and another example of targeted violence against Christians on holy days in Nigeria which has become a tragic, but predictable pattern in recent years.”

As Chairman of the House Values Action Team, I released a statement, alongside Members of the House VAT, in response to the violent Palm Sunday attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

We deeply condemn these atrocities, as no one should face violence and death for their faith. As… pic.twitter.com/drQ80xONt3

— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) April 2, 2026

Attacks against Christians in the African country have been growing in recent years. According to reports, gunmen killed at least 30 people during a Palm Sunday attack in Ungwan Rukuba, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria.

“As Members of Congress, we will continue to condemn these attacks, hold perpetrators of murder and violence accountable, and support the Administration in ensuring that U.S. foreign policy protects people of faith at an international scale,” the House VAT statement continued. “Earlier this year Congress passed bipartisan legislation conditioning U.S. security assistance to Nigeria on Abuja stepping up and defending our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Aderholt was joined in the statement by joined by VAT Co-Chair Congressman Josh Brecheen; VAT Co-Chair Congresswoman Mary Miller; Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Congressman Riley Moore and Members of the House VAT.

“As we enter the end of Holy Week and approach Easter Sunday, the Nigerian government must drastically ramp up security measures across known hotspots in the Middle Belt to protect the right of Christians to worship freely,” they said. “Failure to do so will result in more bloodshed and could force the U.S. to reevaluate our bilateral relationship.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee