Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), has emerged as a key voice in international pressure on Nigeria, urging the abolition of state-based criminal Sharia law and the dismantling of Hisbah morality enforcement units.
His demands were made during a high-stakes briefing before the United States Congress, where lawmakers are calling on Nigeria to take decisive steps in response to escalating violence and religious persecution.At the session, Obadare argued that extremist violence in Nigeria — carried out by groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP and radicalised militias — is being fuelled by legal and religious structures that enable them to operate with impunity. He told lawmakers that unless Sharia criminal provisions are declared unconstitutional nationwide and state-sponsored Hisbah organisations disbanded, progress on security and human rights would remain elusive.
During the briefing, US lawmakers described Nigeria’s situation as a humanitarian and religious-freedom crisis. They urged the government to take urgent action: disarm militant groups, restore constitutional protections for all citizens, and ensure equal rights regardless of faith or ethnicity.
The US Congress — through motions such as H.Res. 860 and H.Res. 866 — has backed the call for accountability, sanctions against perpetrators of extremism, and pressure on Nigerian authorities to uphold religious freedom and protect vulnerable communities.
In light of this growing international scrutiny, Dr. Obadare’s intervention has earned praise among human-rights advocates, both within Nigeria and abroad, who argue that legal reform is essential to addressing root causes of violence and building sustainable peace.
Whether the Nigerian government will heed this pressure remains uncertain — but for many, Obadare’s speech marks a pivotal moment in the broader struggle for justice, equality, and security in the country.
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