Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. — April 22, 2025 —A delegation from the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) and Rising Sun & Ambassadors for Self Defense has petitioned the U.S. government.
They are urging officials to re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Additionally, the group is advocating for Nigeria’s inclusion on the U.S. watchlist because of increasing violence.
This violence, stemming from bandits and criminal herdsmen, poses a significant threat to the region’s stability.
During a recent visit to Capitol Hill, the group actively engaged with several U.S. Congress members.
They discussed the plight of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The delegation urgently called for U.S. intervention due to a troubling rise in human rights violations and ethnic cleansing in Nigeria.
Dr. Sylvester Onyia, President of AVID, highlighted the government’s failure to protect its citizens, particularly Christians, from violent armed group attacks.
“The barbaric activities of killer herdsmen and bandits slaughter indigenous Nigerians while the government neglects to protect these hapless people,” he stated during a press conference after engaging on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, this renewed call for U.S. action follows Nigeria’s removal from the CPC list by President Joe Biden.
This designation was initially established by former President Donald Trump during his first term.
Furthermore, the delegation reminded Congress of a tragic incident on January 20, 2017, when Nigerian security forces killed 27 unarmed Biafra agitators celebrating Trump’s inauguration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Onyia demanded accountability for the incident, asserting, “These innocent victims did nothing other than cheer a U.S. President.”
The delegation also pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in solitary confinement since his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021. Onyia argued that Kanu is not the problem but rather part of the solution for Nigeria’s ongoing issues.
In an emphatic statement, Rev. Father Augustine Odinmegwu accused the British government of complicity in Kanu’s ongoing imprisonment. He questioned their lack of advocacy for his release, given his British citizenship.
“Those oppressing Nigeria actively resist any progress in the nation,” he argued. He highlighted the threats posed by jihadists and Fulani herders, who displace indigenous Nigerians and seize their lands.
Additionally, the delegation warned that without swift action, armed groups could expand their influence into Nigeria’s southeastern region. This situation would seriously jeopardize U.S. and Western interests in the area. “If action is delayed, these jihadists will capture the Southeast, threatening Christians and seizing valuable crude resources,” Odinmegwu cautioned.
Moreover, concerns regarding the Nigerian government’s ability to maintain order intensified after Adeola Ajayi, Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), urged citizens to defend themselves against bandits.
Rev. Odinmegwu criticized this advice as a sign of a nation on the brink of collapse. He questioned, “Is the Nigerian Government failing in its primary duty to protect lives and property?”
As the crisis in Nigeria worsens, the AVID delegation’s plea for international attention emphasizes the pressing need for coordinated action. This response is essential to address the escalating violence and human rights violations affecting the country’s indigenous populations.
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