A Congressional Resolution Condemns Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has introduced a resolution that condemns what he describes as the “persecution of Christians” in Nigeria. The resolution also pledges support for President Donald Trump’s plan to “end the slaughter.” Moore, who announced the initiative on his verified X handle, stated that the resolution was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday and referred to the appropriate committee for further deliberation.
The resolution, titled “Condemning the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and standing ready to support President Donald Trump in taking decisive action to end the existential threat that persecuted Christians face in Nigeria,” calls for increased U.S. involvement in addressing the alleged crisis. Moore emphasized that the resolution is a response to the atrocities faced by Christians in Nigeria and supports efforts to defend them from violence.
Moore, who currently chairs Trump’s investigative committee on religious persecution in Nigeria, described the country as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.” According to him, over 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone, averaging “35 murders each day.” He also highlighted that between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have lost their lives since 2009. Additionally, he mentioned that 19,000 churches have been razed and millions displaced, which he called a “campaign of religious cleansing.”
Targeted Attacks and Government Inaction
Moore pointed out that attackers regularly target Christian holy days, citing specific incidents such as the 2022 Pentecost massacre, the 2023 Christmas Eve attacks, and the 2025 Holy Week killings. He also noted that priests, pastors, and seminarians are routinely targeted, with over 250 clergy killed in the past decade.
He referenced the killing of Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu on Ash Wednesday, insisting that these attacks were not random but rather “targeted jihadist violence.” Moore accused the Nigerian government of “turning a blind eye” to the killings, recalling a case in Plateau State where a pastor who warned of an impending Fulani attack was accused of spreading fake news. Shortly after, more than a dozen Christians were killed.
Moore also criticized President Bola Tinubu for denying the existence of religious persecution in Nigeria. He quoted Tinubu’s September 2025 comment: “There’s no religious persecution in Nigeria.” Moore urged the president to take action, stating, “He now has an opportunity to deepen U.S.–Nigeria relations and, more importantly, do the right thing.”
Historical Context and International Response
The resolution cited Trump’s previous designations of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. This designation was first made in 2020 and again in 2025, allowing sanctions against governments accused of religious rights violations. The document criticized the Biden administration’s 2021 decision to delist Nigeria from the CPC roster, alleging that this move coincided with a spike in violence and persecution.
The resolution also condemned attacks by militant groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as Nigeria’s failure to protect Christians or punish offenders. It cited high-profile cases like the killings of Rhoda Jatau and Deborah Yakubu, faulting Nigeria’s continued enforcement of blasphemy laws as “a direct assault on human rights.”
Calls for Global Action
The resolution concluded by urging the United States to “raise its moral voice” on behalf of persecuted Christians, warning that global silence only emboldens extremists. Moore expressed gratitude to 20 co-sponsoring lawmakers and over 55 international and faith-based groups, including the American Centre for Law and Justice, CatholicVote, Faith & Freedom Coalition, Open Doors USA, and Heritage Action.
As he stated at the @CPAC’s Ending Christian Persecution summit: “I will never stay silent as our brothers and sisters in Christ are being slaughtered for their faith.” Moore added, “The U.S. will consider every option to protect vulnerable Christians from slaughter. Now is the time to put on the full armour of God.”