“Nigeria’s CPC Designation Must Not Be Lifted While Christians Are Being Killed In Middle Belt” — US Congressman Riley Moore

United States Congressman Riley Moore has urged the US Department of State not to remove Nigeria from the list of Countries of Particular Concern, citing continued attacks on Christian communities in the country’s Middle Belt.
Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made the call on Tuesday in a post on his X handle while reacting to the latest attack in Plateau State, where at least 24 people were killed by gunmen in Mangu Local Government Area.
“This is exactly why the @StateDept cannot lift Nigeria’s CPC designation,” Moore said.
The lawmaker argued that although there may have been some security improvements in northern Nigeria, the situation in the Middle Belt remained troubling, particularly for Christian communities.
“Christians are being slaughtered across the Middle Belt with impunity. There may be progress in the north, but nothing has changed in the Middle Belt where most attacks against Christians occur,” he said.
Moore warned the United States against repeating what he described as the mistake of the Biden administration, which removed Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021 after the designation was first imposed under the first Donald Trump administration in 2020.
“We cannot make the same mistake the Biden Administration made. Biden removed the CPC designation from Nigeria after President Trump’s first term and all hell broke loose on Christians. We must stop the genocide,” Moore said.
His comments followed the attack on Bin-Per community in Ruff, Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
At least 24 people were killed in the attack, while several others sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The victims were given a mass burial in the community on Tuesday.
Women from the affected community also staged a peaceful protest, carrying leaves as they marched and called on the government and security agencies to take urgent steps to protect residents from further attacks.
Moore’s latest intervention comes amid continuing engagement between Nigeria and the United States over religious freedom and security.
He also referenced comments by the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, following recent talks between the two countries.
Hooker said she had hosted Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in Washington for the second session of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group.
According to her, the United States remained committed to protecting Christian communities and had identified concrete measures aimed at safeguarding persons facing violence.
She also said Washington would continue to hold countries accountable for ensuring that Christians and other religious communities could practise their faith without threats or persecution.
Reacting to Hooker’s statement, Moore renewed his opposition to any attempt to remove Nigeria from the CPC list.
“DO NOT remove the CPC designation for Nigeria. They have not done near enough to protect Christians! They continue to get slaughtered!!” he said.
Nigeria was initially designated a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 under the first Trump administration over what the United States described as severe violations of religious freedom.
The designation was removed by the Biden administration in 2021.
President Donald Trump subsequently redesignated Nigeria as a CPC on October 31, 2025.
Moore has remained one of the prominent voices in the US Congress calling for stronger measures over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
In November 2025, he introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning what he described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
His latest comments indicate that he intends to continue pressing the US government to retain Nigeria’s CPC designation until, in his view, stronger and more effective measures are taken to protect vulnerable Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt.
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