United States Congressman Riley Moore has opposed any move by the US Department of State to remove Nigeria from its list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), citing continued attacks on Christians in the Middle Belt.

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made his position known on Tuesday in a post on X following the latest attack in Plateau State.

At least 24 people were killed after gunmen attacked the Bin-Per community in Ruff, Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area, between Monday night and Tuesday.

“This is exactly why the @StateDept cannot lift Nigeria’s CPC designation,” Moore said.

“Christians are being slaughtered across the Middle Belt with impunity. There may be progress in the north, but nothing has changed in the Middle Belt where most attacks against Christians occur.

“We cannot make the same mistake the Biden Administration made. Biden removed the CPC designation from Nigeria after President Trump’s first term and all hell broke loose on Christians. We must stop the genocide.”

The victims of the Plateau attack were given a mass burial on Tuesday, while those who sustained injuries were taken to hospitals for treatment. Women from the community also held a peaceful protest, calling for urgent government intervention.

Moore also cited comments by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker following recent US-Nigeria security talks. Hooker said she had hosted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Washington for the second session of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group.

According to Hooker, the US remained committed to protecting Christian communities and had identified concrete measures to protect people facing violence, while pledging to hold countries accountable for ensuring Christians could practise their faith without threats or persecution.

However, quoting Hooker, Moore said, “DO NOT remove the CPC designation for Nigeria. They have not done near enough to protect Christians! They continue to get slaughtered!!”

Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020 under former President Donald Trump over what the US described as severe violations of religious freedom. The Biden administration removed the designation in 2021, while Trump redesignated Nigeria as a CPC on October 31, 2025.

Moore has continued to campaign for the designation and stronger US action over attacks on Christians in Nigeria. In November 2025, he introduced a House resolution condemning the persecution of Christians in the country. (The Sun)

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