Calls for U.S. Action as Violence Against Christians in Nigeria Escalates
The spotlight is once again on Nigeria as advocates and political figures in the United States urge the Trump administration to take a stand against the surge of attacks on Christians in the African nation. The call to classify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) aims to address these escalating issues after the designation was removed during President Biden’s tenure.
Approximately 36 prominent figures in religious freedom advocacy, including notable names like Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom, and former Congressman Frank Wolf, have put their voices together. They urge President Donald Trump to ensure that the U.S. State Department labels Nigeria a CPC, as outlined in the International Religious Freedom Act. The advocates argue that rural Christian communities are being specifically targeted without adequate governmental protection.
The letter highlights that under U.S. law, a CPC designation should be applied when a country tolerates significant violations of religious freedom. Citing examples, the letter accuses the Nigerian government of implementing Islamic blasphemy laws with severe penalties and turning a blind eye to the violence perpetrated against Christian farmers by Fulani herdsmen.
Adding weight to the advocacy, Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.V., also penned a similar letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing the alarming increase in violence, including killings and kidnappings.
Nigeria’s CPC designation, first assigned in 2020 during Trump’s administration, was removed in 2021. According to an NGO, over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the first half of 2025, figures that Rep. Moore highlighted as a “horrific slaughter” in a post on X.
Over the last decade, tens of thousands of Christians have faced death or displacement due to extremist violence. Groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Nigeria’s northeast, alongside Fulani militias in the Middle Belt, have targeted Christian communities, according to Open Doors, a global Christian persecution watchdog.
International observers argue that the situation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt may meet the criteria for religious persecution and genocide. Yet, the Nigerian government attributes the violence to longstanding ethnic clashes.
Rep. Moore insists on acknowledging the religious motives behind the violence, advocating for Nigeria’s CPC designation as a vital diplomatic tool to address these threats. “We must acknowledge the religious nature of this scourge of anti-Christian violence from radical Islamic terrorists,” Moore stated. “It’s time for the United States to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
In recent efforts, Moore and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., co-sponsored a congressional resolution condemning Christian persecution in Muslim-majority countries, including Nigeria, and urging the use of trade negotiations to enforce change.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced legislation to hold Nigerian officials accountable for permitting jihadist attacks. Public figures, such as comedian Bill Maher, have also spoken out to raise awareness regarding the violence against Christians in Nigeria.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
