‘Christian genocide’: US lawmaker gives update on proposed bill

Riley Moore has provided fresh updates on a proposed US legislation aimed at sanctioning individuals accused of persecuting Christians in Nigeria, saying the measure would strengthen Washington’s response to religious violence.

Speaking during an interview on Newsmax, the West Virginia lawmaker said the bill would “further empower the administration” by equipping it with additional tools to confront what he described as “Islamic radical terrorists that are murdering Christians for their faith.”

Moore explained that the proposed legislation targets “bad actors,” including certain Fulani armed groups allegedly involved in attacks on Christian communities.

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According to him, the bill would authorise the US government to impose sanctions on identified individuals and compel regular briefings to Congress on steps taken to address the crisis.

He argued that the scale of violence against Christian communities in Nigeria is unprecedented on the African continent and maintained that the United States must intensify pressure through targeted punitive measures.

The congressman previously introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, a bill designed to reinforce US engagement on issues of religious freedom.

Moore said the legislation builds on former President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and aligns with the evolving US-Nigeria security cooperation framework.

The bill is co-sponsored by Chris Smith of New Jersey and Tom Cole of Oklahoma. If passed, it would require the US Secretary of State to submit annual reports to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees detailing American efforts to combat religious persecution in Nigeria.

Among other provisions, the legislation calls for a review of whether certain Fulani ethnic militias meet the criteria for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).

It also proposes a reassessment of existing sanctions and an evaluation of whether US assistance to Nigeria could inadvertently contribute to religious persecution.

The bill cites persistent religious violence in Nigeria dating back to at least 2009, referencing atrocities allegedly carried out by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, as well as armed Fulani factions.

It estimates that tens of thousands of Christians have been killed between 2009 and 2025, with thousands of churches attacked or destroyed.

The legislation further contends that attacks by armed militias in parts of Benue and Plateau states — including incidents during Christmas and Easter periods in recent years — meet the statutory threshold for terrorist designation under US law.

According to the bill’s text, the continued expansion of militant networks in Nigeria poses risks to US national security interests, threatens regional stability in West Africa, and undermines international religious freedom protections.

Moore insisted that the proposed law would ensure a more coordinated and forceful American response, while strengthening congressional oversight of the administration’s actions on religious persecution in Nigeria.