Dada Olusegun, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media and Convener of the PBAT Media Centre, has fired back at U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore over his recent call for Washington to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged persecution of Christians.
Olusegun, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, described the U.S. lawmaker as “ignorant”, accusing him of peddling falsehoods about Nigeria’s religious situation.
Firstly let me say, Congressman Riley. You are ignorant if not more ignorant than Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) about Nigeria,” Olusegun wrote.
“Secondly, Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side – not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.”
His reaction followed a letter written by Congressman Moore to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 6, 2025, urging the U.S. government to “take immediate action” against what he called the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.
In the letter, Moore alleged that Nigeria had become “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian”, claiming that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone, while more than 19,000 churches have been destroyed since 2009.
He urged Rubio to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act and to suspend all arms sales and technical support to the Nigerian government until it “demonstrates a genuine commitment to ending this reign of persecution.”
“As a Christian nation founded upon biblical principles, the United States bears a unique obligation to stand for the freedom and protection of Christians worldwide,” Moore wrote.
The U.S. lawmaker further accused some northern state governments of enforcing anti-Christian policies, including closing Christian orphanages and reeducating Christian children in Islamic schools.
He also linked the violence to jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Ansaru, alleging that “corrupt cells within the Nigerian government” were complicit in the attacks.
However, Olusegun dismissed the allegations as misinformation, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges were not religiously motivated.
The statement comes amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights and religious freedom record.
In 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a decision reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021, sparking outrage from conservative groups in the U.S. Moore’s letter appears to revive that debate.
“I urge you to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC without delay and withhold arms sales and all associated technical support until the Nigerian government has taken tangible steps to protect our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore wrote.
Olusegun’s statement drew mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many accusing him of hypocrisy and denial.
For instance, Obie_NPG (@Obie_npg) wrote: “@SenTedCruz please ignore this BATSTARD, he’s one of the APC members of the party that founded terrorism, which they used to chase @GEJonathan out of power.”
He also posted a 2012 tweet made by Olusegun where he said, “In Nigeria today, the house of prayer (churches) are death traps! Open ur eyes the GEJ is a failure.”
Goodluck Jonathan was Nigeria’s president at the time.
Also, on May 14, 2022, when Muhammadu Buhari was the President, Olusegun tweeted, “Churches are being set on fire. A state of emergency is the way forward Governor Tambuwal. Before thing deteriorate.”
Ebuka Anene (@Ebukaanene1) wrote, “Segun, you are a hypocrite and liar. At best, a man with a dead conscience. Isn’t this you and your master? And you expect the international community to take you seriously? Desperation for a paycheck can make men twist the truth.”
ADEX John (@KADEOSUN) said, “Not only a liar but doing the work of his paid masters. If there’s true religious tolerance, let him go to Borno and preach Jesus with a megaphone. I pity him and his generation for a loaf of bread.”
Clement. E Okechukwu (@Clems_Andy) recalled Olusegun’s past comments under President Jonathan:
“In 2012, you acknowledged that churches in Nigeria were under siege. Today, your stance has changed — perhaps due to your position in government. This shows it’s more about politics than principle.”
Aondosoo (@aondosoo_i_ also blasted the presidential aide, saying, “Lies! Owo church massacre, murder of priests, burning of churches in Bokkos and Yelwata… it’s endless. Christians are being targeted, but you lie just to stay in government. Thunder fire your lying mouth.”
Olusegun’s defence of the administration has also reignited debate about President Tinubu’s past criticisms of former President Jonathan over similar incidents.
In January 2014, Tinubu slammed Jonathan for failing to protect Christian worshippers in Borno and Adamawa, describing the killings as proof of the president’s incompetence.
“The slaughtering of Christian worshippers is strongly condemnable. It calls into question the competence of Jonathan to protect Nigerians,” Tinubu, who was in the opposition at the time, tweeted in 2014.
Eleven years later, however, Tinubu has adopted a different tone.
Critics have accused the president of hypocrisy, pointing out that under his watch, attacks on Christian communities have continued.
