Trump’s Designation of Nigeria as ‘Country of Concern’ Is a Step Toward Accountability, U.S. Lawmaker
U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has hailed President Donald Trump’s move to label Nigeria a “country of particular concern.”
He praised Trump’s stance as a bold step to protect persecuted Christians.
U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has commended President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” following growing reports of attacks and persecution against Christians.
President Trump, in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday, said Christianity was under severe threat in Nigeria, alleging that thousands of Christians had been killed by radical Islamist groups. “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he said. Trump added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and pledged that his administration was ready “to save our great Christian population around the world.”
Reacting to the move, Moore praised Trump’s decision in a post on X, calling it an act of strong leadership and compassion. “Thank you, @POTUS, for your incredible leadership by designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern,” he 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.”
Earlier this month, Moore had urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take diplomatic action over what he described as the systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria. He claimed that over 7,000 Christians were killed in 2025 alone and more than 19,000 churches destroyed since 2009.
He also alleged that corrupt elements within the Nigerian government may be complicit in some attacks and accused regional authorities in parts of northern Nigeria of closing Christian orphanages and enforcing strict anti-blasphemy laws.
Responding to these claims, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said some U.S. lawmakers were relying on inaccurate data. He maintained that the violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims, warning that foreign officials spreading religious-based narratives risk worsening tensions in the country.
