Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have lauded President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over the alleged persecution of Christians.
The lawmakers described the move as a critical step in addressing what they called a “growing Christian genocide” in Africa’s most populous nation.
The statement, issued by House Values Action Team Chairman Rep. Robert Aderholt and reviewed by our correspondent, praised Trump’s action as offering “hope to the people of Nigeria” and reinforcing the US commitment to defending religious freedom globally.
“President Trump’s commitment to end the Christian genocide in Nigeria and his designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern gives hope to the people of Nigeria. This persecution of Christians must end,” Aderholt said.
Several lawmakers expressed support for sanctions and increased international pressure on those responsible for religious attacks.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said “God bless President Trump for standing up and protecting Christians around the globe.”
GOP Chair Lisa McClain called the situation “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity.”
Reps. Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford emphasized the need for targeted measures against perpetrators.
Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, noted that the decision restored the CPC designation previously lifted under the Biden administration, calling it “a powerful step forward in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in unchecked violence against Christians.”
Other supporters, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, urged Washington to use “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to protect Nigerian Christians and enforce accountability.
On Truth Social, President Trump described Christianity in Nigeria as facing an “existential threat,” blaming radical Islamist groups for widespread violence:
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’ The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening and will stand ready to protect our Christian population globally.”
Rep. Riley Moore, one of the lawmakers who brought the issue to Congress, praised the move as a demonstration of leadership and commitment to protecting persecuted Christians:
“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the bloodshed of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This horrible persecution will end thanks to President Trump.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims of religious persecution.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, in a briefing in Abuja, said US allegations were influenced by “misrepresentation and misinformation” about Nigeria’s internal security situation.
President Bola Tinubu reiterated that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy that protects religious freedom.
In a statement on November 1, he affirmed that the government engages leaders of all faiths in addressing security challenges and emphasized that reports portraying Nigeria as intolerant “do not reflect our national reality.”
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu stated.
