Congressional Leaders Demand Protections for Christians in Nigeria

Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — Christians in Nigeria have faced ongoing attacks with minimal support from the international community, prompting members of the U.S. Congress to appeal to the president to take action.
Many have characterized the violence against Christians in Nigeria as “Christian genocide,” as violent incidents have occurred within churches and Christian communities in the central and northern regions of the country.
Security conditions in Nigeria have deteriorated in recent years, particularly in the north, which is predominantly Muslim. Since Bola Tinubu took office as president in 2023, more than 10,000 people have been killed, hundreds have been abducted, and more than 3 million people have been displaced from their homes.
In the first seven months of 2025 alone, more than 7,000 Christians have been killed, an average of 35 deaths per day. This alarming situation led Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) to formally request that Secretary of State Marco Rubio designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on Oct. 5.
In 2021, President Joe Biden lifted Nigeria’s CPC designation, but Congress is now urging President Donald Trump to reinstate it. Congressman Moore has repeatedly called for urgent diplomatic action in response to the violence, advocating for the cessation of these attacks and urging the U.S. to take action.
“Christians are being persecuted and killed in Nigeria for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Rep. Moore posted on X. “The killings must stop. That’s why I’m urging @SecRubio 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.”
In a recent interview, Moore described Nigeria as the most dangerous place in the world for Christians, noting that 82% of persecuted Christians killed between October 2022 and September 2023 died in Nigeria. Many Americans and people worldwide remain unaware of the ongoing violence in the country.
“The United States cannot stand idly by while believers are slaughtered,” Moore stated. “We must acknowledge the religious nature of this scourge of anti-Christian violence from radical Islamic terrorists. It’s time for the United States to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, and designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern will provide the diplomatic tools necessary to do just that. I urge Secretary Rubio to designate Nigeria as a CPC without delay.”
The recent violence has prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce legislation aimed at holding Nigerian officials accountable for facilitating Islamic jihadist attacks on Christians. Public figures in the media, including Bill Maher, have also called for greater awareness of this persecution and challenged the media to highlight the issue.
A CPC designation could significantly improve the lives of many Christians in Nigeria by raising awareness of the ongoing persecution and exerting pressure on the Nigerian government to take action.
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