A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has opposed any move by the U.S. Department of State to remove Nigeria from its list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), citing continued attacks on Christian communities in parts of the country.
Moore, a Republican lawmaker representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made his position known in a post on X while reacting to the recent killings in Plateau State.
The congressman referenced the attack on a community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where gunmen reportedly killed at least 24 people. According to him, the incident demonstrates that serious concerns about religiously motivated violence remain unresolved.
Moore argued that while there may have been improvements in some northern parts of Nigeria, attacks against Christian communities in the Middle Belt continue to occur with alarming frequency. He maintained that these developments justify Nigeria’s continued designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
The lawmaker criticised the decision of the Biden administration to remove Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, claiming that conditions worsened after the designation was lifted. He warned against repeating what he described as a policy mistake and called for sustained international attention to the situation.
His remarks followed the attack on the Bin-Per community in the Ruff-Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area, where 24 residents were reportedly killed. The victims were buried in a mass funeral attended by community members, while those injured continued to receive medical treatment.
In response to the killings, women from the affected community staged a peaceful protest, carrying leaves and calling on authorities to strengthen security and protect residents from further attacks.
Moore also referenced recent discussions between Nigerian and U.S. officials concerning security cooperation and religious freedom. The talks formed part of ongoing efforts to address concerns linked to Nigeria’s CPC designation.
Nigeria was first designated a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s administration over allegations of severe violations of religious freedom. The designation was removed in 2021 under President Joe Biden but was reinstated by President Trump on October 31, 2025.
The issue remains a sensitive aspect of U.S.-Nigeria relations, particularly as both countries continue discussions on security cooperation and the protection of vulnerable communities.
