A coalition of American military veterans of Igbo descent has formally called on President Donald Trump to support the creation of a “sovereign safe zone” for Judeo-Christians in Nigeria, a proposal Biafra self-determination advocates hail as a major breakthrough following recent debates in the Israeli Knesset.
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a non-profit organization comprising men and women of Igbo heritage who have served in the United States armed forces, made the demand in an urgent letter to Congressman Riley M. Moore, praising his recent report to the White House that declared Nigeria “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”
In the letter dated February 25, 2026, AVID leadership specifically urged Representative Moore to advocate for the Trump administration to support “the creation of a sovereign safe zone for Judeo-Christians and push for the restructuring of Nigeria.”
According to the veterans’ group, such a zone would allow persecuted Christians “to thrive without fear of Islamic and Fulani terror, providing a secure space for them to practice their faith and contribute to regional stability.”
Congressional Report Already Submitted to Trump
The appeal comes just days after Representative Moore formally presented a comprehensive congressional report to President Trump on Monday, February 23, 2026. The submission followed President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern on October 31, 2025, under the US International Religious Freedom Act.
Moore was accompanied by members of the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs, including Chairman Tom Cole, Vice Chair Mario Diaz-Balart, Chairman Brian Mast, and Chairman Chris Smith – all commended in the AVID letter for their “diligence and bipartisan seriousness.”
The congressional report was the result of months of investigation, including a bipartisan fact-finding trip to Nigeria, where lawmakers toured Internally Displaced Persons camps in Benue State, met victims of terrorism, and held discussions with senior Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The congressional report documented widespread atrocities against Christian communities in Nigeria, including “mass killings, kidnappings, the destruction of churches and schools.” Among its key recommendations, the report called for the US to “demand the repeal of Sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws” – a provision AVID described as “bold and timely.”
The veterans’ group noted that these laws have been “weaponized to silence dissent and justify violence against Christians” while undermining basic human rights and religious freedom.
Additional recommendations include:
· Establishment of a bilateral US–Nigeria security agreement to protect vulnerable Christian communities
· Withholding certain US funds pending demonstrable action by the Nigerian government
· Implementation of sanctions and visa restrictions against persecution perpetrators
· Coordination with international partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom
The Safe Zone Proposal and Biafra Connection
AVID’s call for a “sovereign safe zone” represents a significant escalation beyond the congressional report’s recommendations. The proposal would effectively advocate for territorial autonomy for Christian populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and southern regions, where religious violence has been most acute – an idea that resonates deeply with the Biafra self-determination movement.
The organization framed the initiative as aligning “with America’s commitment to self-determination, religious liberty, and protecting vulnerable populations, representing a significant step toward addressing the ongoing genocide.”
For Biafra advocates, this development carries profound historical resonance. The call for a sovereign safe zone for Judeo-Christians in Igbo-majority regions echoes the original vision of the Republic of Biafra, which sought to create a secure homeland for Eastern Nigerian peoples during the 1967-1970 civil war that claimed over one million lives.
The timing is particularly significant, coming just weeks after a major debate in the Israeli Knesset that brought international attention to the Igbo experience. In February 2026, Israeli Member of Knesset Ya’akov Margi called on his government to commemorate the Igbo tragedy during the civil war, invoking images of starving Biafran children and urging Israel’s Foreign Ministry to pressure for international acknowledgement of that history.
The debate saw Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, express “deep empathy” for Biafrans and affirm solidarity with the Igbo people’s security concerns – marking unprecedented official Israeli parliamentary attention to the Igbo experience.
In their letter, AVID President Chief Dr. Sylvester Onyia and Secretary Dr. Godson Obiagwu expressed the organization’s readiness to “provide any additional information, veteran perspectives, or testimony that may assist” congressional efforts.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ have suffered in silence for too long. The world is now watching,” Representative Moore said after the White House meeting.
As the Trump administration reviews the congressional report, pressure continues to mount from religious freedom advocates, human rights organizations, and now military veterans to translate findings into concrete policy actions. For the Biafra self-determination movement, the convergence of a sympathetic congressional report, Israeli parliamentary attention, and a formal proposal from American veterans of Igbo descent represents an unprecedented diplomatic moment – one that brings the dream of a sovereign homeland for the Igbo people closer to international legitimacy than at any point since 1970.
