By Abiola Olawale
A prominent United States (US) Congressman Riley Moore, has demanded that Nigeria be blacklisted as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for what he described as a relentless “genocide” against Christians.
In a letter addressed to the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Moore argued that the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern was needed.
Citing data from advocacy organization Open Doors, the congressman claimed that more than 7,000 Christians have been reportedly killed in Nigeria in 2025.
Moore also pointed out that the administration of US President Donald Trump had previously listed Nigeria as a country of particular concern following religious war claims in 2020, a designation later removed under President Joe Biden.
He called on Secretary Rubio to restore the designation and suspend all U.S. arms sales and technical support to the Nigerian government until it takes steps to protect religious minorities.
He stated: “Nigeria is the deadliest country in the world for Christians and the world stands by silently.
“That’s why I’m urging @SecRubio to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern to unlock diplomatic levers to protect our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Since Boko Haram’s insurgency in 2009, more than 50,000 Christians have been murdered and more than 5 million have been displaced.
“Just this year, a priest was kidnapped and murdered on Ash Wednesday. 54 Christians were martyred on Palm Sunday.
“At least 250 priests have been attacked or killed in the last decade. More than 19,000 churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009– averaging three per day.
“In addition to concerning reports of cells of the Nigerian government’s potential involvement in these attacks, officials at both state and federal levels are also often hostile to Christians.
“This includes forcing the closure of Christian orphanages and forced conversions.
“Both federal and some state governments enforce anti-blasphemy laws. One individual was sentenced to 24 years in prison for “insulting the Prophet Mohammed.”
“Others face the death penalty for similar reasons.
“President Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC at the end of his first administration, but President Biden undid the designation.
“Then Senator-Rubio signed a letter urging Blinken to reverse course, writing that “the moment demands that you do so without delay.”
“I agree. We can’t turn a blind eye as our brothers and sisters in faith face martyrdom for proclaiming the name of Christ.
We must designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern.”
The New Diplomat reports that Moore’s move came after Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz had introduced a bill in the United States Senate over alleged religious persecution.
The bill, titled the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,’ called on the U.S. Secretary of State to restore Nigeria’s CPC status and impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of being complicit in religiously motivated violence or in enforcing blasphemy laws.
“Nigeria has become one of the deadliest places in the world to be a Christian,” Cruz said in a statement. “This bill ensures accountability for Nigerian officials who turn a blind eye, or worse, participate in the persecution of religious minorities.”
