Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have applauded former U.S. President Donald Trump for reinstating Nigeria on America’s list of countries accused of severe violations of religious freedom.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday and made public on Thursday, the lawmakers described Trump’s move as a “bold and moral step” to address what they called a growing Christian genocide in Africa’s most populous country.
The statement was issued by Representative Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the House Values Action Team, on behalf of the group of lawmakers.
According to Aderholt, the decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) had renewed hope among Nigeria’s Christian population and reaffirmed America’s long-standing commitment to defending religious freedom across the world.
“President Trump’s commitment to ending the Christian genocide in Nigeria and his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern gives hope to the people of Nigeria,” he said.
“A Moral Step to Protect Christians”
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over what they described as ongoing attacks on Christians in Nigeria by terrorist and extremist groups.
Aderholt claimed that thousands of Christians were being killed each year and urged Washington to take the lead in addressing the violence.
He stated, “The United States must lead the charge in confronting such violence and protecting vulnerable religious communities.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer also praised Trump’s move, describing him as “a leader unafraid to defend people of faith.”
“God bless President Trump for standing up and protecting Christians around the globe,” Emmer said. “The United States finally has a leader unafraid to do what’s right.”
Similarly, Republican Party Chair Lisa McClain described the situation in Nigeria as “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity.”
Several other Republican lawmakers, including Representatives Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford, expressed support for tougher sanctions and increased U.S. pressure on individuals and groups behind attacks on religious communities in Nigeria.
Trump had first placed Nigeria on the CPC list in December 2020, during his administration, citing what Washington then described as “systematic and ongoing” violations of religious freedom.
The designation was lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden’s administration, a decision that drew criticism from U.S. conservatives, Christian advocacy groups, and some human rights organizations.
However, on Friday, November 1, 2025, Trump announced the reinstatement of Nigeria’s CPC status on his Truth Social platform, saying that Christianity was 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,’” Trump wrote.
He added that the United States “will not stand by while such atrocities are happening” and vowed that his administration would “stand ready, willing, and able to defend Christian populations around the world.”
Representative Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said Trump’s move was necessary to hold the Nigerian government accountable for what he described as its “complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians.”
“This action is a powerful step in holding the Nigerian government accountable,” Smith stated.
Other lawmakers, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, echoed similar sentiments. They urged the White House to use “every diplomatic and strategic tool” available to protect Christians in Nigeria and to ensure that perpetrators of religious violence face justice.
Representative Riley Moore, one of the first U.S. lawmakers to raise the issue in Congress, also praised Trump for what he called “true leadership and moral clarity.”
“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the bloodshed of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore said. “This horrible persecution will end thanks to President Trump.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected the renewed U.S. designation, insisting that religion is not a factor in the country’s security challenges.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in Abuja on Wednesday that the U.S. decision was based on “misrepresentation and misinformation” about Nigeria’s complex internal security situation.
“Our security issues are driven by banditry, insurgency, and socio-economic factors, not religion,” Idris said.
He added that while the government continues to combat insecurity in all regions, labeling Nigeria as a country that violates religious freedom was unfair and inaccurate.
The Minister emphasized that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of terrorism and violence, and the government remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of their faith.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also restated Nigeria’s position on religious tolerance and equality. Speaking earlier this week, Tinubu said that Nigeria remains a secular and democratic state that respects the constitutional right of every citizen to worship freely.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while tackling security challenges that affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
He added that portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.”
According to him, “Tolerance and peaceful coexistence remain central to the Nigerian identity.”
The “Country of Particular Concern” label is issued annually by the U.S. State Department under the International Religious Freedom Act. It is reserved for countries found to have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom, including persecution, mass killings, or restrictions on worship.
A CPC designation can lead to diplomatic pressure, travel restrictions, or economic sanctions, although the final measures depend on U.S. presidential discretion.
Nigeria’s inclusion on the list in 2020 marked the first time a democratic African country received such a designation. At the time, international human rights groups cited killings by Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), and violent herder-farmer clashes as evidence of religious and ethnic persecution.
The Nigerian government, however, has consistently argued that these conflicts are driven by terrorism, poverty, and competition over land and resources, not religion.
For now, however, Trump’s decision has energized a growing number of U.S. lawmakers who believe the U.S. should play a stronger role in defending religious freedom worldwide.
