Nigerians call for caution in reaction to Trump’s Christian genocide claim

The declaration of Nigeria as ” country of particular concern”, by the President Donald Trump administration on Friday has continued to elicit calls for caution.

Nigerians, including those resident in the United States, are calling for caution to avoid plunging Nigeria into religious crisis.

This is as Congressman Riley Moore, in a statement shortly after President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, applauded the decision, describing Nigeria as ” the deadliest country in the world to be a Christian.”

“I want to sincerely thank President Trump for his incredible leadership and decisive action to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Nigeria has become ground zero for Christian martyrdom, and I am proud to have been leading the effort in Congress to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered since I was first sworn into Congress. Nigeria is, by far, the deadliest country in the world to be a Christian.

Moore, an American lawmaker representing the West Virginia 2nd Congressional District, revealed how he has been calling for this designation “since my first floor speech in April, where I highlighted the plight of Christians in Muslim majority countries.

” I then introduced H.Res. 594 in July to further draw attention to these atrocities against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

He claimed that more than 7,000 Christians have been martyred this year alone—an average of 35 every day.

Moore also described the designation as ” a critical first step in holding the Nigerian government accountable for engaging in and tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom, including doing nothing to stop mass killings targeting Christians and upholding its blasphemy laws that disproportionately target Christians.

” I am grateful that the President has asked Chairman Tom Cole and me to work through the Appropriations Committee to ensure that Nigeria receives the international attention, pressure, and accountability it urgently needs.

“This CPC designation sends a clear message: the United States will not turn a blind eye as Christians are slaughtered, and we stand ready to protect our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide,” he said on his social Media handle.

But Paschal Mbawuike, a Washington DC, US-based Nigerian, in a telephone chat with BusinessDay, cautioned against heightening religious tension in Nigeria.

The Imo State-born Mbawuike described the claim of genocide against Christians as “inaccurate, given the current insecurity ravaging the various parts of the country.

” As an American and a Nigerian with a Christian religious background, who is also deeply knowledgeable about issues of insecurity in Nigeria, I sincerely believe these claims to be inaccurate, dangerous and capable of inflaming passion in an already tense environment, like Nigeria,” he said.

” I believe that the proposed “U.S. bill on Nigeria, titled: ” The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, 2025″, seeking to designate Nigeria as a ” Country of Particular Concern”, and impose sanctions on persons allegedly complicit in religious persecution, may have emanated from an attempt to deceive the international community about the current security situation in Nigeria.

“Yes, there is no doubt that there have been some instances where non-state actors, bandits, terrorists have carried out attacks on innocent communities in Nigeria, particularly, the North Central states of Plateau and Benue states, but these acts are not limited to these areas, neither are they particularly targeted at Christians, as claimed.

“The stories of deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP terrorists, beheading over 80 innocent Muslim farmers in Borno, are of global knowledge.

“Recently also, these criminals attacked a Mosque, in an area known as Unguwan Mantau, in Malumfashi local government of Katsina state, during early morning prayers, left over 50 persons dead.

Mbawuike who noted that case of terrorism in Plateau and Benue States are no exception, added that “the government, through the office of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, is currently decisively addressing it on the orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“President Tinubu is a Muslim, yet married to his only wife, Pastor Oluremi Tinubu, who is a Pastor with one of Nigeria’s biggest Churches, the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG.

“Nigeria is a secular country, without any state religion. We therefore boldly reject the false narratives suggesting ” Christian Persecution/ genocide in Nigeria” as it is currently being pushed by certain Western media outlets, with the backing of a few U.S. lawmakers.

According to him ” The country, no doubt have been facing challenges of insecurity as I have elucidated above, driven by criminality, not religion, and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made significant progress in dismantling the terror networks responsible.

“We therefore, will continue to appeal to our brothers in the US and across the globe not to fuel ethic/ religious divisions in Nigeria

” Instead, they should join us in strengthening our resolve to build a united country that gives hope to the entire people of West Africa and indeed, Africa.

“A stanza in our national anthem says: “though tongues and tribes may differ, but in BrotherHood we stand.” This is our watchword and guiding principles in Nigeria

“We invite our international partners to stand with Nigeria in sustaining the gains made against insurgency and banditry.

He noted that under the Tinubu’s administration has been battling to ensure that terrorism decline in the county

This administration of the All Progressive Congress APC, is also being propelled by the enigmatic ideas and wisdom of Nentawe Yilwatda, a Christian, from Plateau State, who is the party’s National Chairman.

” The administration has remained focused on building peace, unity, national development, and no propaganda can distract us from that mission” he said.

Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, it will be recalled had alao urged the international community not to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.
He warned that such a move could undermine ongoing efforts to foster peace and interfaith dialogue

Kukah, speaking at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need, ACIN, 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom in the World, held at the Augustinianum Hall, Vatican City, recently, acknowledged that Nigeria’s challenge is ” deep-seated”,

He, however, insisted that “Nigeria should be supported, not punished, as it worked to overcome religious violence and national disunity.

The report, which spans 1,248 pages, documents a global decline in religious freedom, with more than 5.4 billion people living in countries where such rights are restricted.

It identifies authoritarianism, religious extremism, ethno-religious nationalism, and organised crime as key drivers of persecution across the world.

Abraham Oki, an Abuja-based Cleric, also called for caution in the handling of the issues, but urged the federal government to intensify actions against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and farmers/ herders conflicts in the country.

” What is going on now is not new, and we are not surprised that the global community is reacting the way they are doing.

” Benue and indeed the entire Middle Belt has been under intensive attacks by Fulani herdsmen over the struggle for land to graze their animals and it is either the federal government has become helpless or incapacitated.

” What is happening may not be religious in nature, but we cannot deny the fact that those who are targeted are predominantly Christians.

” Many people in these areas regarded as the agricultural food basket of Nigeria have been rendered homeless, as their source of living are continually eroded and their communities rendered desolate

” They bury their loved ones daily without help from the government that is supposed to protect them”.