Tinubu Complicit in Deadly Attacks on Nigerian Christians – US Lawmaker

An American lawmaker, Riley Moore, has accused President Bola Tinubu and his administration of being complicit while turning a blind eye to the ongoing massacre of Christians in Nigeria, describing the situation as a silent genocide that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Speaking during a podcast hosted by Mario Nawfal over the weekend, Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District in the U.S. Congress, alleged that President Tinubu’s government has failed to protect minority Christians from relentless assaults carried out by extremist groups across Nigeria.

“What’s happening in Nigeria is nothing short of genocide,” Moore declared. “The government is complicit in the suffering of our Christian brothers and sisters. 

"Between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been murdered, and more than 19,000 churches attacked or destroyed. Yet the world remains silent.”

The U.S. lawmaker condemned what he described as the Tinubu administration’s “shameful silence,” stressing that continued inaction only emboldens extremist elements behind the killings. 

According to him, the Nigerian government’s failure to curb the attacks signals a lack of political will to address religious violence.

“It’s heartbreaking that a democratically elected government has turned a blind eye to this tragedy,” he added. 

“Christians are being persecuted, villages are being wiped out, and churches are being razed, and yet, there’s barely a response. It’s ethnic cleansing happening in real time.”

Moore identified three main groups responsible for the violence: Boko Haram, Islamic State in Africa (IS-Africa), and armed Fulani herdsmen. 

He maintained that all three operate with alarming impunity, often without meaningful intervention from Nigerian authorities.

While acknowledging past efforts by Abuja to combat Boko Haram insurgents, the Republican congressman insisted that such measures remain inadequate. 

He argued that the government’s presence is rarely felt in communities where Christian minorities face daily threats and killings.

Moore also called on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under America’s Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a designation that would pave the way for sanctions or stronger diplomatic pressure on the Tinubu government.

“We must act now,” Moore urged. “Nigeria cannot continue to receive security assistance from the United States while its Christian citizens are being massacred without consequence.”

His remarks add to growing calls within the U.S. Congress urging President Donald Trump to take decisive action on the reported persecution of Nigerian Christians. 

Several Republican lawmakers have demanded that Washington reevaluate its relations with Nigeria until meaningful steps are taken to end the killings.

The Nigerian government has consistently denied allegations of religious persecution, insisting that the ongoing violence stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than an orchestrated campaign against Christians.

However, rights groups and international observers have repeatedly accused successive Nigerian administrations of doing too little to prevent such attacks, raising fears that the crisis could escalate if stronger action is not taken.