The Nigerian government has firmly dismissed a recent request from U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore, who urged the United States to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing alleged “systematic persecution and mass killings of Christians” within the country.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Moore claimed that Nigeria has become “the most perilous nation worldwide for Christians.” He called for an immediate halt to arms sales to Nigeria until the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to ending the violence and safeguarding religious minorities.
Moore pointed out that in 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians have lost their lives, averaging nearly 35 fatalities each day. He referenced specific tragic events, such as the massacre of at least 50 Christians on Palm Sunday and another 200 in June, underscoring that these violent episodes have been ongoing for years without significant intervention.
He further alleged that between July 2009 and September 2025, more than 19,100 Christian worship centers were attacked or destroyed, with at least 850 Christians currently held captive in jihadist camps. Moore also accused certain corrupt elements within the Nigerian government of complicity in these atrocities.
Drawing on information from Open Doors and other Christian advocacy groups, Moore highlighted that Nigeria harbors at least 22 Islamic extremist factions linked to ISIS and other terrorist organizations, describing the situation as a “devastating surge of anti-Christian violence.”
The congressman urged Secretary Rubio to swiftly reinstate Nigeria’s CPC designation and to suspend all arms sales and related technical support until the Nigerian government takes decisive action to protect Christian communities.
In rebuttal, Nigerian officials quickly rejected these claims as exaggerated, inaccurate, and politically motivated. Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, condemned Moore and other U.S. lawmakers for what he described as a “disinformation campaign” rooted in falsehoods.
Onanuga responded directly to Moore’s assertions on X, stating, “Rep. Riley Moore, your perception of Nigeria is fundamentally flawed. You, Rubio, Cruz, and others are promoting a narrative based on fabrications about our nation.” He maintained that Nigerian Christians are not subjected to persecution beyond what is imagined and dismissed the portrayal of Nigeria as the deadliest country for Christians.
He also urged Moore to redirect his attention to the ongoing violence against both Christian and Muslim Palestinians, including women and children, committed by Israel, rather than distorting Nigeria’s reality.
Onanuga emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are not rooted in religious strife, noting that bandits and terrorists also target Muslims, attacking mosques and abducting people regardless of their faith.
Similarly, Dada Olusegun, another presidential aide, described Moore’s letter as uninformed and disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty. He wrote, “Congressman Riley, your ignorance about Nigeria rivals that of @tedcruz. Nigeria is a sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no religion is under siege; our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines coexist harmoniously as symbols of our unity.”
Just last week, the federal government also dismissed similar allegations of “religious genocide” circulating on social media, attributing them to coordinated misinformation campaigns linked to foreign actors allegedly connected to the U.S. and Israel.
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, reiterated that Nigeria is a multi-faith country with substantial Christian and Muslim populations. “We are home to one of the world’s largest Muslim communities alongside some of the biggest Pentecostal churches and the largest Anglican congregation globally,” Idris affirmed.
He added, “Christianity is neither endangered nor sidelined in Nigeria. It is important to note that the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians, reflecting the inclusiveness of our national leadership.”
This controversy has sparked intense debate across social media, with Nigerians divided in their opinions. Some back Moore’s claims, citing frequent attacks on churches and clergy, while others accuse the U.S. and Israel of attempting to exert pressure on Nigeria following Vice President Kashim Shettima‘s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the Palestinian cause.
Experts suggest this latest dispute highlights growing tensions between Abuja and Washington over narratives concerning human rights and religious freedom-issues that have repeatedly shaped U.S. foreign policy toward Nigeria, especially since the country’s CPC designation was first imposed and later lifted between 2020 and 2021.
The U.S. Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status is assigned to nations that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act. Nigeria was initially designated a CPC by the Trump administration in 2020 but was removed from the list by the Biden administration in 2021, citing improved cooperation with Nigerian authorities.