The United States House of Representatives is moving to adopt a resolution condemning the killings and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing alarming statistics and accusing the Nigerian government of not doing enough to protect religious minorities.
The resolution, sponsored by Representative Riley M. Moore of West Virginia, also expresses strong support for former President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) — a label reserved for nations involved in severe violations of religious freedom.
Representative Moore shared the six-page resolution on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing the situation in Nigeria as “one of the worst humanitarian crises for Christians in the world.”
According to the resolution, Nigeria has witnessed an unrelenting wave of violence against Christians since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. It claims that between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been killed for their faith over the past 16 years.
The document provides chilling figures, stating that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone, averaging 35 deaths every day. It also reports that more than 19,000 churches have been destroyed or attacked since the insurgency began.
In Benue and Plateau States—both in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region—the resolution alleges that over 9,500 people, mostly Christians, were killed between May 2023 and May 2025 by what it described as “Fulani militants.”
The report further claims that Christians are being killed at a rate five times higher than Muslims, and the attacks are not random or merely communal disputes but a deliberate campaign of religious cleansing.
The resolution identifies the perpetrators as Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani extremist groups. It accuses them of carrying out massacres, kidnappings, sexual violence, and church burnings in a sustained effort to wipe out Christian communities in northern and central Nigeria.
The US lawmakers’ resolution supports Donald Trump’s October 31, 2025 decision to once again place Nigeria on the CPC list, after it was removed in 2021 during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The Country of Particular Concern designation, under the US International Religious Freedom Act, allows Washington to impose sanctions, travel restrictions, and diplomatic measures on countries found to be violating the rights of religious groups.
In his accompanying statement, Representative Moore said the data shows “a pattern of systematic persecution that cannot be ignored.” He urged both the US Congress and the State Department to “stand with Nigerian Christians who are being killed for their faith.”
“America cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities,” Moore wrote. “We must hold the Nigerian government accountable and ensure that aid, diplomacy, and pressure are used to protect innocent lives.”
The resolution strongly criticises President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of downplaying or denying the scale of religious persecution in the country.
It claims that despite widespread reports of violence, the Nigerian government “continues to deny that Christians are being targeted because of their faith.” Instead, the government often describes the killings as “farmer-herder conflicts” or “bandit attacks.”
The lawmakers argued that such explanations ignore the deeper religious dimensions of the violence. They also accused Nigerian authorities of failing to prosecute those responsible for attacks on Christian communities, leading to what they called a “culture of impunity.”
The resolution calls on the US government to use every available diplomatic, economic, and security tool to pressure Nigeria into ending impunity, protecting religious minorities, and bringing justice to the victims.
It also urges Washington to advocate for the repeal of blasphemy laws in Nigeria and the release of all persons detained for expressing or practicing their faith.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has long struggled with religious and ethnic tensions, especially between the predominantly Muslim North and largely Christian South.
The rise of Boko Haram in 2009 marked a turning point in the country’s security landscape. The group, whose name roughly translates to “Western education is forbidden,” began with bombings and kidnappings aimed at establishing an Islamic state.
Over the years, Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP, have targeted churches, schools, and communities, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands.
In the country’s Middle Belt region, recurring clashes between herders and farmers have often taken on religious overtones, with Christian farming communities accusing Fulani herders—mostly Muslims—of targeted attacks.
Although Nigerian authorities have launched multiple military operations to combat the violence, attacks have persisted, especially in rural communities where security presence is weak.
The US and Nigeria have maintained strong diplomatic and security ties for decades. Nigeria is one of America’s key allies in Africa and a major trading partner, especially in energy and counterterrorism efforts.
However, relations have occasionally been strained by disagreements over human rights, corruption, and religious freedom.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, Nigeria was first designated as a Country of Particular Concern. The move sparked diplomatic tension, as Nigerian officials argued that the violence was not based on religion but on socio-economic factors.
The Biden administration later removed Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, a decision that drew criticism from religious freedom advocates. Now, with Trump’s redesignation and growing concern in the US Congress, Nigeria once again finds itself under international scrutiny.
While the Nigerian government has yet to officially respond to the latest resolution, some analysts believe it could lead to renewed diplomatic pressure on Abuja.
If passed, the resolution could pave the way for sanctions or restrictions on Nigerian officials accused of enabling or ignoring religious violence. It could also affect military cooperation and foreign aid, especially if Washington links assistance to human rights and religious freedom conditions.
In the US, the resolution has drawn support from Christian advocacy groups, which have long accused the international community of ignoring what they call “genocide against Nigerian Christians.”
One such group, Open Doors USA, ranks Nigeria among the top ten countries most dangerous for Christians. The organisation says thousands of believers face daily threats, abductions, and attacks on their places of worship.
In closing, the resolution affirms that the United States stands in solidarity with Christians in Nigeria, pledging to defend their right to practice their faith without fear of violence or death.
“The freedom to worship without fear is a fundamental human right,” the document reads. “The United States must lead the world in defending this right wherever it is threatened.”
As the US Congress debates the resolution, Nigeria once again faces tough questions about how it is tackling insecurity and protecting all its citizens — regardless of religion.
