A member of the United States House of Representatives, Chris Smith, has condemned the recent attack in Jos, Plateau State, which left about 28 people dead.
Gunmen had on March 29 attacked a popular community in the state, killing dozens of residents during the assault.
The incident occurred on Palm Sunday, a significant Christian observance that precedes the Easter celebration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Smith described the attack as part of a troubling pattern of violence in the region.
“The fact that such atrocities are repeated year after year, on the same holy day, underscores the urgent need for decisive action,” he said.
The lawmaker referenced a similar incident in 2025, when over 50 people were reportedly killed after gunmen invaded Kimakpa village in Miango district of Bassa Local Government Area on Palm Sunday.
Smith urged the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to protect Christian communities and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
He further stated, “As Christians in Nigeria observe Holy Week and approach Easter Sunday, a time of profound spiritual reflection and celebration, I urge the Government of Nigeria to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of all Christian communities in the country.
“This includes deploying adequate security forces and holding perpetrators to account.”
He stressed that the government has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.
“The Nigerian government has a fundamental responsibility and constitutional duty to protect all its citizens, regardless of their faith,” he added.
Smith warned that repeated attacks could threaten religious harmony in the country.
He said, “The continued failure to prevent and intercept these targeted attacks not only deepens human suffering, but also threatens the fabric of religious coexistence in the region.
“The need for the government to step up and protect the lives and religious liberty of Nigerians cannot be overstated.”
He also described the killings as tragic and unacceptable.
“These savage killings, targeting Christians as they gathered during one of the most sacred times of the year, are incredibly heartbreaking and absolutely unacceptable,” Smith said.
The lawmaker said the United States must continue to stand in solidarity with victims of religious violence in Nigeria.
He also urged Nigerian authorities to take urgent action to prevent further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Wednesday visited President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja to discuss the recent attacks.
The governor described the violence as “an act of terrorism”, adding that the identities and motives of the perpetrators remain unclear.