A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has strongly criticized Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, over his recent claim that only 177 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the last five years. Moore said the figure was unbelievable and amounted to downplaying the seriousness of the security crisis in the country.
The controversy began earlier in the week when Tuggar appeared on the Piers Morgan Uncensored programme to defend Nigeria’s record on religious freedom, address allegations of Christian genocide, and clarify the government’s view of the insecurity affecting different parts of the country.
During the interview, host Piers Morgan cited figures from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety)—a Nigerian civil rights group known for tracking violence—that alleged over 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009 and more than 18,000 churches destroyed. These figures have been widely circulated internationally, especially among advocacy groups and US policymakers.
However, Tuggar dismissed the numbers. He insisted the government does not record deaths based on religion and argued that Nigeria’s security crisis is complex, involving banditry, communal clashes, terrorism, and criminality, which affect citizens across different faiths. He described the religious framing as misleading and said the government considers all victims to be Nigerians first, regardless of their faith background.
Speaking during a congressional hearing in Washington DC on Thursday, Congressman Riley Moore said he found Tuggar’s figure of 177 Christian deaths over five years difficult to accept, especially given the level of violence Nigeria has experienced.
He noted that this claim was repeated by Nigerian officials currently in Washington for discussions with US lawmakers on religious freedom and security issues.
“I recently saw the foreign minister was in an interview—I think it was Piers Morgan—and it was the same thing when the delegation came here and some of us spoke to them, just disputing these numbers,” Moore said.
“I think the foreign minister said in the last five years there’s only 177 Christians have been killed. I don’t think anybody believes that, and I don’t think it’s constructive on their part to try to downplay what’s happening.”
The congressman expressed concern that Nigeria’s response to international questions seemed focused on reducing the scale of the crisis rather than addressing the root causes.
The debate over the number of Christians killed in Nigeria has been ongoing for several years. Nigeria faces multiple security challenges, including Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East, farmer–herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, banditry in the North-West, and communal and criminal violence in various regions.
International groups, particularly religious freedom organisations, have raised alarms over what they describe as targeted attacks against Christian communities. Some US lawmakers and advocacy bodies have previously pushed for Nigeria to be listed as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations.
Intersociety, whose figures were quoted by Piers Morgan, has long accused security agencies and the federal government of failing to protect Christian communities from attacks. Nigerian authorities, however, often argue that the group’s data is exaggerated, not independently verified, and focuses only on Christian victims while ignoring Muslim casualties in the northern part of the country.
On the Piers Morgan show, Tuggar maintained that Nigeria’s security problems should not be reduced to a “Christian vs Muslim” narrative. He said the government does not compile casualty figures by religion and criticised international media for oversimplifying the crisis.
He explained that many killings result from a combination of terrorism, land disputes, and criminality, and insisted that both Christians and Muslims have been victims. Tuggar also expressed frustration that some international groups present Nigeria as a country where Christians are being systematically targeted, arguing that the government has no policy that discriminates against any religious group.
He further said that the government has been working to improve security across the country and address the challenges posed by non-state actors.
Moore’s comments reflect a growing concern within the US Congress over Nigeria’s handling of religious violence and insecurity. Several lawmakers have been pushing for more transparency from the Nigerian government, especially regarding casualty figures and the protection of vulnerable communities.
The Nigerian delegation in Washington has been holding a series of meetings with US officials to counter claims of widespread religious persecution. However, Moore suggested that their approach may be worsening the situation by appearing to downplay reports rather than engaging with them openly.
He highlighted that the scale of violence in Nigeria is well documented by independent groups, media reports, and eyewitness accounts, making it difficult for anyone to accept a figure as low as 177 deaths over a five-year period.
Security experts say Nigeria’s violence is often difficult to categorize, as attacks sometimes involve militants, bandits, criminal gangs, or local groups involved in land or resource disputes. In many cases, victims belong to rural farming communities, which may be predominantly Christian or Muslim, depending on the region.
This makes casualty counting difficult and leaves room for disagreement between civil society organisations and government officials.
However, the difference between Intersociety’s figure of over 50,000 Christian deaths and Tuggar’s claim of 177 in five years shows how sharply opinions differ.
The exchange between Tuggar and Moore is likely to increase international attention on Nigeria’s human rights and security record. It may also influence US foreign policy toward Nigeria, especially in areas related to military assistance, sanctions, or diplomatic pressure.
In Nigeria, the debate is expected to spark reactions from Christian organisations, civil society groups, and political commentators. Many observers believe the government must provide clearer data on the security situation and improve communication to avoid misunderstandings with international partners.
For now, the controversy highlights the global concern surrounding Nigeria’s insecurity and the urgent need for reliable, transparent information about those affected.
