Washington, D.C. (Planet Akinadé) – On November 7, 2025, U.S. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) introduced a congressional resolution condemning the systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria and supporting President Trump’s redesignation of the country as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations. Rep Moore’s resolution, which is co-sponsored by 20 colleagues, calls for U.S. sanctions, visa restrictions, and aid conditions to urge Nigeria to prosecute attackers and protect minorities, amid reports of over 5,000 Christian deaths in 2024 and rising figures in 2025.
Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. 7,000 Christians have been killed this year. That’s 35 murders EACH DAY.
— Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) November 7, 2025
Between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009.
19,000 Churches have been burned.
Millions have been displaced. pic.twitter.com/1FAxljMTP2
A press release, dated October 6, 2025, by Rep Moore said he sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on the United States to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, a status that triggers heightened scrutiny of religious‐freedom violations and may lead to sanctions.
According to the press release, Moore’s letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mentioned that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria so far in 2025, an average of about 35 per day, while about 19,100 churches have reportedly been attacked or destroyed since 2009. The congressman noted that President Trump had previously designated Nigerian as a CPC but that designation was reversed by the Biden-led administration.
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In his floor remarks, Moore stated that more Christians are being killed in Nigeria than in any other country combined, and he called Nigeria “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian”. Moore urged suspension of U.S. arms sales and technical advice to Nigeria unless the Nigerian government takes credible action to protect Christian communities. His remarks also noted that militant groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS‐West Africa (ISWAP) and Fulani‐herder militias are major perpetrators and he alleged some complicity on the part of Nigerian officials.
Nigeria’s government has strongly rejected the allegations. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized Moore’s claims as “false and misleading” and affirmed that the government does not deliberately engage in the targeted persecution of Christians, emphasizing that both Christians and Muslims suffer from violence. Analysts warn that while violence in Nigeria is indeed severe, it is complex, driven by insurgency, communal conflict, land disputes and banditry, not only by religious persecution.
Following Rep Moore’s remarks, plus similar allegations of a “Christian genocide” and the persecution of Christians in Nigeria by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and some American celebrities, Trump declared Nigeria as a CPC.
A report by Punch, on October 31, said the U.S. president announced the redesignation in a post, which was shared on the White House’s official X account saying “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern’.”
Trump stated that he wanted Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into the matter and report back to him.
As I said at @CPAC’s Ending Christian Persecution summit: I will never stay silent as our brothers and sisters in Christ are being slaughtered for their faith. pic.twitter.com/JAeuCY8gAo
— Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) November 7, 2025
Rep. Riley Moore’s resolution – which highlights attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram affiliates that have killed tens of thousands since 2009 – has received endorsement from advocacy groups, including global religious freedom organisation ADF International, of which, legal counsel Sean Nelson quoted Rep Moore’s statement in the following tweet on Friday, saying “For far too long, Christians in Nigeria have suffered, with thousands every year losing their lives for simply living out their faith. We applaud and proudly endorse this resolution from Representative Riley Moore as a major step forward in protecting human dignity and religious freedom in Nigeria. Now that the world is watching, there is no better time than now to help our Christian brothers and sisters and put an end to the persecution and horrific violence they have faced.”
“For far too long, Christians in Nigeria have suffered, with thousands every year losing their lives for simply living out their faith. We applaud and proudly endorse this resolution from Representative Riley Moore as a major step forward in protecting human dignity and religious…
— Sean Nelson (@Sean_ADFIntl) November 7, 2025
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Sources:
Moore, R. (2025). Congressman Moore Urges Secretary of State to Designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” Amid Rampant Christian Persecution. https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-moore-urges-secretary-state-designate-nigeria-country-particular-concern
Sahara Reporters (2025). US Congressman Riley Moore Insists On Nigeria Re-Designated As ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Killings In Christian Communities. https://saharareporters.com/2025/10/11/us-congressman-riley-moore-insists-nigeria-re-designated-country-particular-concern-over-killings-in-christian-communities
Sulaimon, A. (2025). UPDATED: Trump declares Nigeria ‘country of particular concern’ over Christian genocide claims. Punch. https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/punchng.com/breaking-trump-declares-nigeria-country-of-particular-concern-over-christian-genocide-claims/