The United States lawmaker leading an inquiry into alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Riley Moore, has pledged to brief President Donald Trump soon, following the president’s renewed claims that Christians are being targeted in the West African nation.
Trump, during a speech on Wednesday evening, reaffirmed that Nigeria had been redesignated a “Country of Particular Concern” under US law, citing what he described as large-scale killings of Christians by Islamic terrorists.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands and thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a country of particular concern — that is a legal definition,” Trump declared.
The former president urged US lawmakers to act swiftly, pointing to alarming statistics on global Christian persecution.
“When Christians or any group are slaughtered like what’s happening in Nigeria 3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide, those are horrible numbers,” he said.
Trump called for immediate legislative oversight and named those he expects to lead the inquiry.
“Something has to be done. I’m asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me — I mean, like immediately,” he added.
Trump also hinted that the United States could intervene militarily if the alleged killings continue.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities happen in Nigeria and other countries. It’s not only in Nigeria; it’s all over. We are able and willing to defend Christians — the killing of Christians, it is not going to happen,” he said.
In a response posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Moore thanked Trump for his stance and assured him of swift action.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your incredible leadership in defending persecuted Christians, especially in Nigeria.
Your bold and decisive action to protect our brothers and sisters in Christ will save thousands of lives. I am on it and will have more for you soon,” he wrote.
Trump had earlier, via his Truth Social account, reaffirmed his decision to place Nigeria on the CPC list following claims of Christian genocide.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country Of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” he wrote.
The Nigerian government has strongly rejected Trump’s assertions, describing them as inaccurate and misleading. Officials maintain that violence in the country stems from broader insecurity rather than religious persecution.
President Bola Tinubu, in a post on X, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and dismissed the genocide claims as a distortion of reality.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said.
He added that his administration continues to collaborate with both Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges nationwide.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike, and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu noted.
The president further argued that external portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant fail to reflect the country’s diversity and the government’s efforts toward peace.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it consider the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” he stated.
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