Abuja / Washington, Oct 21, 2025 – A growing chorus of U.S. lawmakers has called on Donald Trump to pressure the Nigerian government to safeguard the country’s Christian community, citing what they describe as escalating violence and impunity in Nigeria’s central and northern regions. (The Times of India)
Prominent among the voices is Riley M. Moore, a U.S. Congressman who addressed the issue in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and through statement on social media. Moore accused Nigeria of becoming “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” and urged that it be re-designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), thus opening the door for sanctions unless protection is improved. (Businessday NG)
Alongside Moore, other members of Congress, including Ted Cruz and Chris Smith, have advanced similar concerns. They argue that Christians in Nigeria face killings, abductions and attacks while the authorities are accused of failing to intervene. A formal hearing earlier this year by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa directed the U.S. administration to consider sanctions after documenting widespread violence. (THISDAYLIVE)
However, the Nigerian federal government has rejected the allegations as exaggerated and misleading. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, insisted that attacks in Nigeria’s troubled zones are driven by a mix of poverty, land disputes and banditry — not religious persecution. It noted that many victims are Muslims and that framing the violence purely as anti-Christian risks fueling division. (THISDAYLIVE)
In its commentary, the Nigerian government also accused external actors of pushing a narrative meant to justify sanctions or foreign interference. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, described recent U.S. pressure as an example of “lobby groups… revving up sentiments” of persecution without sufficient evidence. (Semafor)
Religious leaders in Nigeria have responded with mixed messages. While some Catholic clergy say that Christians are indeed suffering in certain regions, they also caution against presenting the situation as one-sided. Fr. Solomon Patrick Zaku of the Pontifical Mission Societies stated: “Insecurity in Nigeria affects all; Christians, Muslims, and traditional believers. But it is true that Christians have suffered in unique ways.” (ACI Africa)
Why This Matters
For Nigeria, which boasts nearly equal Christian and Muslim populations and is home to a rich tradition of religious pluralism, the spike in international scrutiny raises several stakes:
Diplomatic & trade implications: A CPC designation by the U.S. could bring sanctions, impact defence and security partnerships, and affect Nigeria’s global economic standing. (THISDAYLIVE)
Internal stability and perception: Narratives of faith-targeted violence risk inflaming communal tensions and undermine efforts at national unity across regions already battered by insurgency, banditry and ethnic clashes.
Faith community morale: Nigerian Christians seeing the international attention may feel both vindicated and vulnerable, while other faith groups could perceive bias—creating potential backlash.
Policy and governance focus: The Nigerian government may face increased pressure to strengthen its protection of communities, review blasphemy laws in some states, improve law enforcement accountability and provide transparent data on victims. (THISDAYLIVE)
The Road Ahead
Congressional letters and resolutions now await action from the U.S. administration. The push includes calls for Nigeria to be returned to the CPC list and for arms sales or security cooperation to be conditioned on improvements in religious freedom and protection. (International Christian Concern)
In Nigeria, the government signals it will not be easily swayed by external pressure. Officials are emphasising the complexity of Nigeria’s security problems and warning that mislabeling them as purely faith-based could be dangerous. The country’s response suggests any future engagement will be shaped by how its leaders believe national interests should be balanced with international scrutiny. (The Guardian Nigeria)
For communities on the ground, the immediate concern remains the same: safety. Whether through church leadership, civil society or government bodies, the call for more effective protection—regardless of faith—is echoing louder than ever.
