US Congressman Riley Moore has publicly opposed any move to remove Nigeria from the United States government's list of 'countries of particular concern' (CPC), arguing that President Bola Tinubu's administration has failed to adequately address violence against Christian communities. Moore made his stance clear in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, responding to a statement from the Bureau of African Affairs that condemned a deadly attack in Plateau State.
Moore Rejects Removing Nigeria's CPC Designation
In his post, Moore wrote: 'We absolutely CANNOT remove the CPC designation from Nigeria while radical Islamic terrorists continue this horrific violence against Christians. @AsstSecStateAF is right. The Nigerian government must meet its commitments to protect innocent Christian communities.' The congressman's intervention carries weight given his firsthand experience; he was part of a US fact-finding delegation that travelled to Nigeria to assess claims of Christian genocide, providing him with direct exposure to the security conditions on the ground.
The Plateau State attack, which both Moore and the Bureau of African Affairs referenced, involved bandits allegedly killing scores of people while they slept. The Bureau of African Affairs had condemned the attack and called on the Nigerian government to protect its citizens. Moore's pushback suggests that discussions within US policy circles about easing Nigeria's CPC designation are underway, a move he strongly opposes in light of the recent violence.
What Does CPC Designation Mean?
The 'countries of particular concern' list is maintained by the US government to identify nations where severe violations of religious freedom are taking place. Placement on the list can carry diplomatic and foreign policy consequences, including potential sanctions or restrictions on certain forms of assistance. Moore's comments align with the Bureau of African Affairs, which also condemned the attack and called on the Nigerian government to protect its citizens.
The Plateau State attack is the latest in a pattern of violence that has drawn sustained international attention to the security situation affecting communities deemed to be Christian-dominated in parts of Nigeria. Moore had previously visited Nigeria as part of a US fact-finding delegation on alleged Christian genocide in the country, giving his opposition to removing the CPC designation added credibility.
Broader Security Concerns in Nigeria
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that armed groups, criminal kidnappers, and terrorists abducted 91 health workers and killed 15 others across 101 separate attacks on Nigerian healthcare facilities between 2023 and 2025, according to a new international report. The figures come from the 'Care in the Crosshairs: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2025' report, published by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition. The data was compiled using Insecurity Insight's global monitoring system and covers incidents across the three-year window.
