2 hours ago
1
A United States Congressman, Riley M. Moore, has called for sanctions and the repeal of blasphemy and Sharia laws in Nigeria as part of broader recommendations to address violence against Christian communities in the country.
Moore made this known in a report presented to the White House and later posted on his official X handle on Tuesday.
The report, which he said followed months of investigation, outlines what he described as concrete steps to end the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and tackle extremist violence.
According to Moore, the process included a bipartisan congressional fact-finding visit to Nigeria, hearings with expert witnesses, consultations with religious leaders, meetings with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and discussions with senior Nigerian government officials.
“Following today’s productive meeting at the White House, I want to thank President Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and for his Administration’s commitment to protecting our brothers and sisters in Christ from persecution,” Moore said.
“I traveled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face, and the instability the Nigerian government must combat,” Moore stated.
Nigeria was redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on October 31, 2025, a move Moore said led to his assignment, alongside Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to lead a comprehensive congressional investigation into the situation.
The report recommends establishing a bilateral U.S.-Nigeria security agreement aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities and dismantling jihadist networks.
It also proposes withholding certain U.S. funds until the Nigerian government takes demonstrable action to stop violence against Christians.
In addition, Moore called for sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals and groups allegedly responsible for or complicit in religious persecution.
The report further recommends providing technical support to the Nigerian government to address violence linked to armed Fulani militias.
The report further recommended a demand for the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws, which Moore argues contribute to religious discrimination.
He also urged collaboration with international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to confront security challenges in Nigeria.
He added that through congressional hearings and engagements with stakeholders, the team had provided a clear picture of the threat environment in Nigeria and the horrific persecution Christians face.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ have suffered in silence for too long. The world is now watching,” he said.
The report urged the Nigerian government to deepen its relationship with the United States to address the security crisis.
“Doing so is in the interest of both our great nations. Together, we must address these pressing security challenges and bring an end to violence against Christians.”
It will be recalled that on December 7, the Congressional delegation met in Abuja with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss ways to find a lasting solution to the killings of innocent Christians by extremist groups.
Christian genocide: Moore calls for sanctions, repeal of blasphemy, Sharia laws in Nigeria
