Trump’s Bold Move: Designating Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Christian Persecution

By Newsmax Wires | Monday, 03 November 2025 08:45 PM EST
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., on Monday praised President Donald Trump for what he called “the Lord’s work” in addressing the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Speaking on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Moore highlighted Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” which he described as a critical step against radical Islamist violence that has killed tens of thousands of Christians.

Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.”

Moore noted that Trump’s previous post designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” a move he had long advocated for. He emphasized that this designation unlocks diplomatic tools to restrict assistance, sanction individuals, and prohibit arms transfers.

In his post, Trump stated: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria [3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide], something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”

Moore cited over 7,000 Christian “martyrs” in Nigeria this year alone, calling the violence a continuation of persecution that has claimed between 50,000 and 100,000 lives since 2009. He declared: “Our brothers and sisters in Christ [are being] murdered in cold blood.”

“The president is doing the Lord’s work here, God bless him, I’m so happy and thrilled that he’s actually standing up for Christians who are losing their lives to Islamic terrorists and this terrible situation,” Moore said.

The State Department under President Joe Biden removed Nigeria from its “particular concern” list in 2021 despite reports of church burnings and mass killings by extremist groups.