US Representative Riley Moore has called on the United States government to officially designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over what he described as “systematic persecution” of Christians by terrorist groups and extremist militias.
Speaking in an interview on Fox News, Moore said the situation in Nigeria has reached crisis levels, with thousands of Christians reportedly killed in recent months. “What we want is for the killings to stop,” he said. “It’s a systematic campaign of persecution by Islamic terrorist organizations. It’s not just Boko Haram, but IS West Africa, and also the Fulani tribe that lives in that middle band, that has been indiscriminately targeting Christians and killing them.”
Moore argued that a CPC designation would pressure the Nigerian government to take stronger action and allow Washington to reconsider aspects of its security cooperation with Abuja. “Making this country a particular concern will limit and restrict their security assisting programmes with the United States,” he explained. “We have been training and equipping the Nigerians in hope that they’re going to stop Boko Haram and eliminate them from Nigeria. Well, that’s not happening.”
The Congressman also suggested possible government complicity, alleging “a question of collusion between the current Islamic government in Nigeria and these terrorist organizations that are killing Christians en masse.” He urged President Donald Trump to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC designation, which was lifted in 2021.
In a post on X.com, Moore wrote: “The killings must stop. That’s why I’m urging @SecRubio (Secretary of State Marco Rubio) to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. We must use every diplomatic tool to end this horrific slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Moore also expressed disappointment at what he described as a lack of coverage by mainstream US media. “It absolutely should be [a major news story in the US],” he said. “We’ve had 7,000 Christians murdered — that’s 35 a day — killed in Nigeria just for professing their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We cannot allow this to continue.”
His comments have sparked renewed debate among human rights groups and policymakers in Washington, some of whom have long pushed for Nigeria’s return to the US religious freedom watchlist.
The US State Department is yet to respond to Moore’s latest appeal. However, advocacy groups such as Open Doors USA and the International Christian Concern (ICC) have repeatedly ranked Nigeria among the deadliest countries for Christians, citing ongoing attacks by insurgent groups and communal militias.
Moore’s remarks come as international pressure mounts on the Nigerian government to improve security in the country’s Middle Belt and northern regions, where most of the killings have occurred.
