US lawmakers have been told to make Sharia law unconstitutional in Nigeria because it is the root cause of Islamic extremism, which is now targeting Christians in the country.

This was suggested by Ebenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, who spoke to the root cause of the violence: unchecked jihadist terror groups, chief among them Boko Haram.

The briefing was attended by US House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)—alongside Appropriators Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Rep. Riley Moore

Obadare said, “The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror, perpetrated by the Islamist group Boko Haram. Boko Haram translates to ‘Western education is forbidden.’ Boko Haram’s barbarous and implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate in its stead is the source of Nigeria’s present discontents. Every proposal to solve the Nigerian crisis that does not take seriously the need to radically degrade and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram as a fighting force is a non-starter.”

Obadare also laid out an effective strategy to combat the terror groups, including pressuring the Nigerian government with incentives.

Obadare continued, “As recent events have shown, the Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives. Since the country’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation and President Trump’s threat of unilateral military action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has made several moves, including ordering air strikes against Boko Haram targets, the recruitment of an additional 30,000 policemen, and, most recently, declaring a national security emergency in the country. Washington must keep up the pressure. The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram. Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to (1) make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states where they have been adopted since 2000 and (2) disband the various Hisbah groups across northern states seeking to enforce and impose Islamic law on all citizens regardless of their religious identity.”

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee has said it will continue to work closely with the Trump Administration to combat religious persecution around the world. Appropriators have been investigating the massacre of Christians in Nigeria, per the President’s directive, and are preparing a comprehensive report to present to President Trump on ways Congress can support the White House’s efforts.

ASA