A U.S. lawmaker, Riley M. Moore, has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to Rubio, who currently serves as U.S. Secretary of State, Moore said Nigeria has become the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” urging the U.S. to “use all diplomatic tools available”, including halting arms sales to Nigeria and redesignating it as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act.
“I write to urge you to take immediate action to address the systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians in Nigeria. 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,” the letter reads.
“Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, and the United States cannot stand idly by. I urge you to use all diplomatic tools available, including designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and halting arms sales and all associated technical support until the Nigerian government demonstrates it is sufficiently committed to ending this reign of persecution and slaughter.”
The Congressman cited chilling statistics, claiming that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone, an average of 35 murders per day.
He further referenced reports that at least 19,100 churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009, while more than 15 million Nigerians have been displaced due to extremist violence.
“The sheer number of Christians who suffer persecution daily for their faith, including the staggering number who have been murdered for proclaiming Jesus Christ as their savior, is horrific. More than 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 already, an average of 35 murders per day,” he said.
“That includes at least 50 Christians brutally martyred on Palm Sunday and another 200 killed in June. This is consistent with reports from Open Doors indicating that more Christians are killed every year in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. These relentless persecutions have continued for years and show no signs of abating.”
Moore, who has been vocal on international human rights issues, alleged that the Nigerian government has done little to protect its Christian population and may even be complicit in the attacks.
He accused regional governments in northern Nigeria of supporting extremist ideologies and enforcing anti-Christian policies, including the closure of Christian orphanages and the reeducation of Christian children in Islamic schools.
He wrote, “Since 2015, at least 250 Catholic clergy have been attacked, in addition to another 350 clergy from other denominations. On Ash Wednesday this year, a priest in north-central Nigeria was kidnapped and brutally murdered. Between the Boko Haram uprising in July 2009 and September 2025, 19,100 Christian churches in Nigeria have been attacked or destroyed, representing an average of 1,200 churches per year, 100 per month, or more than three per day.
“In addition, at least 850 Christians are currently being held for ransom in jihadist camps under extreme conditions. These individuals are tortured or killed if ransom isn’t paid. Reports estimate that at least 15 million people have been displaced by the rampant acts of violence and terror in Nigeria. Simply put, this must end.
“Muslim extremist groups such as ISIS-West Africa, Ansaru, and Boko Haram are major perpetrators. Just last week, Boko Haram ravaged Kirawa, Nigeria, displacing thousands. But just as concerning are reports that corrupt cells of the Nigerian government may be complicit, and even directly involved, in some of these attacks.
“In northern states such as Kano, regional governments have backed and facilitated the closing of Christian orphanages and forced the children to be reeducated as Muslims. The Nigerian federal government also maintains and enforces anti-blasphemy laws, and several states within Nigeria have even harsher versions than the federal government. This includes sentencing an individual to 24 years in prison for ‘insulting the Prophet Mohammed.’”
Moore’s letter also linked the violence to well-known jihadist organizations such as Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Ansaru, which he described as “major perpetrators” of religious killings and kidnappings. He claimed that at least 850 Christians are currently being held for ransom in jihadist camps, where many are tortured or killed if payment is not made.
“Just last week, Boko Haram ravaged Kirawa, Nigeria, displacing thousands,” the letter noted. “But just as concerning are reports that corrupt cells of the Nigerian government may be complicit, and even directly involved, in some of these attacks.”
The Congressman faulted the Nigerian government’s repeated attempts to frame the crisis as a generalized “terrorism problem” rather than targeted religious persecution.
“While Nigerians of all faiths face terrorism, Christians are far and away the most targeted for persecution and violence,” he said. “Additionally, this violence stems almost exclusively from Muslim groups and is explicitly anti-Christian.”
Moore also drew attention to previous U.S. policy actions, noting that former President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020, a move reversed by President Joe Biden upon taking office.
He reminded Rubio that, as a U.S. Senator, he had previously urged the Biden administration to restore Nigeria’s CPC designation, citing recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
“President Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC during his first administration. President Biden decided to undo the designation when he took office. As Senator, you sent a letter with several of your colleagues to then-Secretary Blinken urging him to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC,” he said.
“In that letter, you wrote, in accordance with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s recommendation, ‘it is incumbent upon you to reverse last year’s decision and redesignate the country as a CPC. The moment demands that you do so without delay.’”
Moore demanded immediate action from the State Department, calling for a full arms embargo on Nigeria until the government “demonstrates it is sufficiently committed to ending this reign of persecution and slaughter.”
“I agree with your assessment that the moment demands that the administration take strong action without delay, and the situation has only grown more dire. As such, 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. Thank you for your attention to this request.”
