Thousands of Nigerians under the umbrella of Save Nigeria Group USA gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, braving the cold to demand urgent action against the ongoing sectarian violence in their homeland.
The protesters called attention to over 52,000 citizens killed and more than 11 million displaced by the crisis.
The rally drew support from other African expatriates and Americans who have visited Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the group’s leader, Mr. Stephen Osemwegie, condemned the persistent ethnic and religious killings, kidnappings, and attacks on communities across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Borno, and the Southeast.
“We gather today on this sacred ground — not because of the buildings behind us, but because of the truth we are speaking, the justice we are demanding, and the lives we refuse to forget…”Osemwegie said, describing the violence as a systematic campaign of religious and ethnic cleansing.
He praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), calling the move the first meaningful step toward halting the killings.
“President Trump saw what many refused to see. He said what many feared to say. And he acted when others sat in silence. We thank him. We honor him. And we stand with him.”
Osemwegie urged the U.S. government to enforce the CPC designation fully, imposing sanctions, visa bans, asset freezes, and criminal referrals against any Nigerian political, military, or security officials implicated in terror sponsorship, covering up massacres, or profiting from stolen resources.
The group also called on the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to act on legislation recognizing the ongoing killings as Christian genocide.
“Mr. Speaker — history will remember what happens next. Let the House stand with the persecuted,” they said, stressing the urgency of protecting displaced citizens and holding perpetrators accountable.
Highlighting ongoing injustices in Nigeria, the protesters demanded the release of Mr. Sunday Jackson, sentenced to death for defending his community, and called for transparency from the FBI and Chicago State University regarding investigations linked to President Bola Tinubu.
“We are not asking America to fight our battle. We are asking America to stand for the values it already claims: freedom, human dignity, truth, justice, the sanctity of every life… NOT ON OUR WATCH. NOT IN OUR GENERATION. NOT WHILE WE STILL HAVE A VOICE. God bless Nigeria. God bless America. And God bless every soul fighting for truth and justice,” the group concluded.
A select delegation from Save Nigeria Group later held a two-hour closed-door meeting with U.S. diplomats at the request of the State Department in Washington, D.C.
