U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore accused Tinubu’s government of downplaying Christian killings in Nigeria and urged sanctions, but the presidency dismissed the allegations as “false narratives.”
Fresh pressure is mounting on President Bola Tinubu’s government as another U.S. lawmaker accused Nigeria of downplaying what he described as the “genocide of Christians.”
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Representative Riley M. Moore of West Virginia urged President Donald Trump’s administration to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and suspend arms sales until Abuja demonstrates commitment to ending what he called a reign of persecution.
Mr Moore alleged that “corrupt cells of the Nigerian government may be complicit, and even directly involved, in some of these attacks.” He said more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone, averaging 35 per day. Citing attacks on clergy, destruction of over 19,000 churches since 2009, and the displacement of 15 million people, he urged swift American intervention.
“While Nigerians of all faiths face terrorism and death at the hands of extremists, Christians are far and away the most targeted,” he wrote, listing Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Ansaru as major perpetrators.
The lawmaker’s call comes amid Senator Ted Cruz’s push for the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act,” which seeks sanctions against officials accused of facilitating persecution.
However, President Tinubu rejected the genocide narrative during a weekend visit to Plateau State. “Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side, not as rivals, but as symbols of unity,” he said.
Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare also dismissed genocide claims, describing them as a “false narrative” designed to malign Nigeria.