A member of the United States Congress, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has accused former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of complicity in the alleged killing of Christians in northern Nigeria.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s Second District, made the accusation in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account while reacting to Kwankwaso’s earlier comments denying reports of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, had dismissed allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria. He argued that the country’s insecurity crisis affects everyone equally, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or politics.
His comments came in response to the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former US President Donald Trump’s administration, a status given to nations accused of violating religious freedoms.
Reacting to Kwankwaso’s statement, Rep. Moore accused the former governor of hypocrisy, linking him to the enforcement of strict Islamic laws that, he claimed, endangered Christians and other religious minorities in Kano State.
In his post, Moore wrote:
“Governor – do you care to comment on your own complicity in the death of Christians? You instituted Sharia law. You signed the law that makes so-called blasphemy punishable by death.”
The US lawmaker’s remarks refer to the introduction of Sharia law in Kano and several northern states in the early 2000s, during Kwankwaso’s first tenure as governor. The Islamic legal system, adopted in about 12 northern states, has long been a subject of debate, especially regarding its implications for human rights and freedom of religion.
While Moore’s comments have sparked renewed debate on social media, Kwankwaso has not publicly responded to the allegations as of press time.
The issue of religious violence and alleged persecution of Christians in parts of northern Nigeria has continued to attract international attention. Several human rights organisations and religious groups have accused local authorities of failing to protect minorities, while Nigerian officials insist that ongoing violence is largely driven by terrorism and banditry, not religion.
