A United States congressman leading a requested probe into alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Rep Riley M. Moore, has pledged to brief President Donald Trump ‘soon,’ as the row between Washington and Abuja widened following Mr Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) for religious-freedom violations.
Rep Moore – whom Mr. Trump named as one of the lawmakers to lead oversight into the killings – said he is ‘on it’ and would provide the president with findings in short order, praising the administration’s move to spotlight violence against Christians in Nigeria.
Moore has issued statements applauding the redesignation and said he will lead congressional efforts to investigate the reported slaughter of Christians.
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In a series of public posts and remarks, President Trump accused ‘radical Islamists’ of carrying out ‘large-scale killings’ of Christians in Nigeria and said he was labeling the country a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act – a designation that can lead to targeted penalties, including suspension of some foreign assistance.
He urged swift congressional action and told lawmakers to investigate the scale of the violence; he also suggested the United States could take military action if the killings continue.
The Nigerian government has strongly rejected the president’s characterisation, calling it inaccurate and misleading.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and senior officials, reiterated that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy that protects freedom of religion, and that widespread violence in the country is driven by broader insecurity – including insurgency, banditry and communal conflict – not state-backed persecution of a faith group.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told reporters that state-backed religious persecution is ‘impossible’ under Nigeria’s constitution and law, and Abuja welcomed international assistance to tackle terrorism so long as Nigeria’s sovereignty is respected.
The CPC designation comes from the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act and is intended to highlight governments or entities engaged in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
The label itself does not automatically impose blanket sanctions, but it authorises the US government to consider a range of targeted responses – from visa restrictions to suspension of non-humanitarian aid – and raises diplomatic pressure on the designated state. Critics say the move is largely symbolic unless Washington follows through with concrete measures; supporters argue it focuses attention on victims and can unlock policy responses.
The episode has provoked sharp reactions on both sides of the Atlantic: US lawmakers and activists who have long pressed for tougher action on religious persecution hailed the president’s decision and urged rapid investigations, while Nigerian officials, political parties and civil society groups have pushed back against what they call an exaggerated and politically motivated portrayal of the country.