U.S Rep. Reily Moore: “This is just a first step. To end the tragedy, we must acknowledge the horrific persecution that is occurring.” He advocated
“Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. 7,000 Christians have been killed this year. That’s 35 murders EACH DAY. Between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009. 19,000 Churches have been burned. Millions have been displaced.
“These attacks are not simply intercommunal violence – they are deliberate campaigns of religious cleansing. The attackers regularly target Christian holy days, such as the 2022 Pentecost massacre, the 2023 Christmas eve massacre, and 2025 Holy Week attacks.
“Priests, pastors, and seminarians are routinely targeted for kidnapping and killing, with more than 250 clergy killed in the past decade. On Ash Wednesday of this year, Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu was kidnapped and brutally murdered.
“These are targeted killings of Christians by jihadists, not just general instability and violence. While members of other faiths are killed as well, when adjusted for population sizes in various states, Christians are killed at a rate more than five times higher than others.
“The Nigerian government has repeatedly failed to respond to attacks or hold perpetrators accountable. Last month, a pastor in Plateau state warned of an impending Fulani attack. The Nigerian Army accused him of spreading fake news, and more than a dozen Christians were killed.
“President Tinubu has denied the nature of this crisis, saying as recently as September of this year that, “there’s no religious persecution in Nigeria.” He now has an opportunity to deepen and strengthen Nigeria’s relationship with the United States and, more importantly, do the right thing.
“As @POTUS said, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there.” His bold decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern is a huge step to ending the slaughter.
“As I said at @CPAC’s Ending Christian Persecution summit: I will never stay silent as our brothers and sisters in Christ are being slaughtered for their faith.
“The U.S. will consider every option to protect vulnerable Christians from slaughter. Now is the time to put on the full armor of God to stand for our brothers and sisters in Christ.” He added
