Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Letter to President Trump
- Claims of Persecution
- Previous Designation
- Government Response
A lawmaker representing West Virginia’s Second District in the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has reached out to President Donald Trump, requesting that the U.S. government promptly designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
The letter, dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to Marco Rubio, Secretary of State at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., was obtained by DAILY POST on Tuesday.
In the correspondence, the lawmaker urged the U.S. government to immediately cease the sale of arms and all related technical support to Nigeria until the “Nigerian government demonstrates a genuine commitment to ending the ongoing persecution and violence.”
Moore asserted that from January to September 2025 alone, at least 7,000 Christians have been brutally murdered by “Muslim extremist groups.”
He claimed that over 250 Catholic priests have been attacked or killed throughout the country since 2015, emphasizing that “between the Boko Haram uprising in 2009 and 2025, 19,100 churches in Nigeria have been attacked or destroyed.”
DAILY POST reports that President Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC during his first term; however, his successor, former President Joe Biden, reversed this designation.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, television host Bill Maher, and political commentator Van Jones have also claimed that Nigeria is experiencing a “Christian genocide.”
In a recent podcast appearance with American talk show host Bill Maher, Senator Cruz alleged that Christians are being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria, labeling the situation as “genocide.”
However, the Federal Government has dismissed these claims, stating that the worsening security situation in the country does not specifically target any one religion.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, recently characterized the allegations as false, misleading, and potentially divisive.
According to him, foreign commentators are “orchestrating unfounded allegations about an unproven ongoing genocide” in Nigeria and urged both Nigerians and the international community to reject attempts to “clothe the country in a narrative that is not its own.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)?
A Country of Particular Concern (CPC) is a designation applied by the U.S. government to countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.
Why did Rep. Moore write to President Trump?
Rep. Moore wrote to President Trump to request that Nigeria be designated as a CPC and to call for an immediate halt to arms sales and technical support to Nigeria until the government shows commitment to stopping persecution.
What are the allegations against the Nigerian government?
Allegations include claims of systematic targeting and killing of Christians, attacks on Catholic priests, and widespread destruction of churches by extremist groups.
