U.S. Congressman Accuses Nigerian Government of Turning Blind Eye on Christian Persecution
A U.S. federal lawmaker has publicly rebuked Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government for failing to protect Christians in Nigeria, declaring that widespread religious persecution in the country remains “real and ongoing.”
In a statement aired on U.S. television and shared on his official social media, Riley M. Moore rejected the Nigerian president’s reassurance that “religious freedom and tolerance have always been central” to the nation.
Moore insisted that there is “serious persecution happening in Nigeria,” and accused authorities of downplaying or ignoring the crisis.
As an example, Moore pointed to a Christian man, identified by the media only as “Mr. Sunday Jackson”, who is allegedly imprisoned after defending himself from an attack by a militant from a Fulani militia. Under the 12 northern states where Sharia law applies, the Congressman argued, suspects like Sunday Jackson risk death sentences for defending their own lives.
Moore further claimed the violence disproportionately impacts Christians, who he said are being killed at a rate roughly five times higher than followers of other faiths.
He called on the United States to act, including reinstating Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). That classification would allow Washington to consider punitive measures such as sanction, withholding aid, or restricting access to international financing.
According to Moore, all options remain on the table, including possible military measures, if Nigeria fails to halt what he described as an escalating campaign of religiously‑motivated violence.
Reaction and Global Pressure
The statement from Moore adds to growing pressure on the Nigerian government from international human‑rights actors and foreign governments. In recent weeks, lawmakers in the U.S. have held hearings to investigate allegations of mass killings, church‑burnings, abductions, and forced conversions targeting Christian communities in Nigeria.
At the same time, Nigerian officials have rejected claims of “Christian genocide”, insisting that security challenges, especially jihadist violence, banditry, and farmer‑herder clashes, affect all Nigerians regardless of faith.
Many domestic and global observers are calling on Abuja to address the root causes of the violence, strengthen protection for vulnerable communities, and ensure equal treatment for people of all faiths.