NFL Players Press Trump and Congress for Action on Nigeria’s Religious Violence

Overview

• More than 60 current and former NFL players sent a Dec. 19 letter urging stronger U.S. steps to protect religious communities in Nigeria.
• The appeal was coordinated by Sports Spectrum with Benjamin Watson and includes signers such as Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, TreVeyon Henderson, Tony Dungy, Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston and Devin McCourty.
• Recommendations include dismantling the Fulani Ethnic Militia, expanding U.S. humanitarian aid, imposing targeted sanctions and appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.
• The letter faults Nigeria’s security forces as ineffective and describes the Fulani Ethnic Militia as a leading terrorist network responsible for mass atrocities and displacement.
• Players cite recent attacks, including the November kidnapping from a Catholic boarding school, and note Nigeria’s long-standing “country of particular concern” status; officials have not announced a response to the letter.