Alleged Christian Killings: US Lawmaker hails Trump for naming Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’

U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has applauded former President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to rising reports of persecution and killings of Christians in the country.

Trump made the declaration in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday, where he alleged that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat” from radical Islamists, Very Nigerian had reported.

“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 wrote.

He further stated that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and pledged his administration’s readiness “to save our great Christian population around the world.”

Reacting to the move via his X handle, Congressman Moore commended Trump’s decision, calling it a show of strong leadership and commitment to protecting persecuted Christians.

“Thank you, @POTUS, for your incredible leadership by designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern,” Moore wrote. “You have always been a champion for Christians around the world, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you and Chairman Cole to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered by radical Islamists in Nigeria,” he added.

Earlier, Moore had urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take swift diplomatic action over what he described as “the systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria, which he said had become the deadliest country for Christians.

In a statement on October 6, he called for Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and demanded a suspension of U.S. arms sales until the Nigerian government demonstrates a “tangible commitment” to ending the violence.

Moore cited figures from Open Doors and other reports, claiming that more than 7,000 Christians had been killed in 2025 and that over 19,000 churches had been attacked or destroyed since 2009.

He also alleged that “corrupt elements within the Nigerian government may be complicit” in some attacks, adding that regional authorities in states like Kano have closed Christian orphanages and forced children to convert to Islam.

While acknowledging that Nigerians of all faiths face terrorism, he said Christians “are far and away the most targeted for persecution and violence,” claiming that Nigeria “is the headquarters of no less than 22 Islamic terror groups linked to ISIS and other extremist networks.”

In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said some U.S. lawmakers were relying on inaccurate and misleading data to promote a false narrative of Christian genocide.

Speaking on CNN, Idris described the allegations as “misleading and unreflective” of Nigeria’s complex security challenges, emphasizing that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorism.

“Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and the assumption that victims of violence are largely Christians. Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion; they attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country,” he said.

Idris warned that such narratives could deepen religious tension and fuel animosity between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.

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