According to a report by Daily Post, Rep. Riley M. Moore, who represents West Virginia’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has called on President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to ongoing religious persecution.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Moore urged the U.S. government to suspend all arms sales and related technical assistance to Nigeria. The letter, which was obtained by Daily Post on Tuesday, emphasized that such measures should remain in place until the Nigerian government proves its commitment to ending what Moore described as “the reign of persecution and slaughter.”
According to the lawmaker, from January to September 2025, over 7,000 Christians were brutally killed by what he termed “Muslim extremist groups.” He further alleged that since 2015, more than 250 Catholic priests have been attacked or killed across the country.
Moore also highlighted the widespread destruction of Christian places of worship, noting that “between the Boko Haram uprising in 2009 and 2025, 19,100 churches in Nigeria have been attacked or destroyed.” He described these acts as clear evidence of religiously motivated violence that has persisted for years without adequate intervention from the Nigerian government.
The congressman insisted that Washington must take a firmer stance to pressure Nigerian authorities into protecting religious minorities and ensuring justice for the victims. He warned that continued U.S. military support could be seen as enabling the persecution if no concrete steps are taken by Abuja to safeguard human rights.
Moore’s appeal adds to growing concerns in Washington and among international human rights groups over Nigeria’s deteriorating security and religious freedom situation. His call for Nigeria’s designation as a CPC—reserved for countries engaged in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom—would mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Africa’s most populous nation. See, More, Here>>>
Explore More News By Using The Button Above