U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore has urged Donald Trump and Marco Rubio to declare Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over the killing of Christians, citing systematic persecution and government complicity.
A United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has called on former President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” over what he described as the systematic persecution and killing of Christians.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to the U.S. State Department, the West Virginia congressman urged Washington to suspend arms sales and military assistance to Nigeria until the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to ending religiously motivated violence.
Moore described the situation in Nigeria as “the systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians,” warning that the crisis has reached genocidal proportions.
He further asserted that “Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, and the United States cannot stand idly by.”
Statistics and Allegations of Complicity
Citing data from Open Doors and other global rights organizations, Moore claimed that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone — an average of 35 deaths per day.
He added that since 2009, at least 19,100 churches have been attacked or destroyed, while about 850 Christians remain in captivity.
The congressman accused Boko Haram, Ansaru, and ISIS-West Africa of orchestrating the attacks, while alleging that “corrupt cells” within the Nigerian government have been complicit in the violence.
He dismissed the Nigerian government’s repeated claim that “terrorism affects all faiths equally” as misleading, insisting that Christians remain the most targeted group.
Call for Policy Action
Moore, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, urged the Trump administration to restore the CPC designation on Nigeria — a status first imposed under Trump but removed by President Biden in 2021.
The CPC designation, under the International Religious Freedom Act, is reserved for countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom. It allows the U.S. government to impose sanctions or restrict aid to compel corrective action.
Moore also called for a review of U.S. military cooperation with Nigeria, arguing that continued assistance without accountability could embolden perpetrators of religious violence.
Nigeria’s Response
The Nigerian government has rejected the allegations, maintaining that it does not persecute any group based on religion.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently described similar claims from foreign organizations as “unfounded and politically motivated.”
Officials insist that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts that affect citizens of all faiths, not from religious persecution.
Despite these assurances, international human rights groups continue to raise concerns about targeted attacks on Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt and northern regions of the country.
Broader Implications
Moore’s letter adds to growing pressure on Washington to reassess its foreign policy stance toward Nigeria, especially regarding religious freedom and human rights.
If the CPC designation is reinstated, Nigeria could face diplomatic and economic consequences, including restrictions on military aid, arms sales, and development assistance.
The development also underscores the renewed focus on religious persecution as a key issue in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump-Rubio administration.
