‘Nigeria is deadliest place in the world to be a Christian’ -US lawmaker presents report to Trump, calls for tougher action to end alleged genocide

A coalition of United States lawmakers investigating the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria has claimed the West African nation is the worst place in the world to be a Christian.

The findings in a report presented by Riley Moore called on the Nigerian government to repeal its Sharia and anti-blasphemy laws to combat rising extremist violence.

The sweeping demands were outlined in a report submitted to the White House on Monday by representatives from the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs.

As part of their recommendations, the lawmakers urged the White House to establish a strategic US–Nigeria security pact. According to West Virginia Republican Riley Moore, who led the investigation alongside Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the pact aims “to protect vulnerable Christian communities and dismantle jihadist networks.”

To enforce these demands, the lawmakers proposed a hardline diplomatic approach, including:

• Withholding specific US funding until the Nigerian government shows “demonstrable” action to stop the violence.
• Imposing targeted sanctions on individuals found supporting violence against Christians.
• Enacting strict visa restrictions on those complicit in the attacks.

The lawmakers’ demands follow a series of aggressive foreign policy moves by the US in the region. In October, the US officially designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing severe violations of religious freedom and targeted attacks on Christian communities.

The situation escalated dramatically on Christmas Day when the US launched airstrikes against suspected terrorist positions in Nigeria’s northern state of Sokoto. Since the strikes, the US has deployed approximately 100 soldiers and supplied military equipment to assist the country in its fight against terror groups.

The American demand for Nigeria to abolish Sharia law is highly likely to trigger severe pushback from the country’s Muslim community and heighten religious sensitivities. Currently, up to 12 states in northern Nigeria have Sharia and anti-blasphemy laws in place.

The US lawmakers, however, strongly criticised the legal framework, stating: “Blasphemy laws in Nigeria’s northern states are used to silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called ‘convictions’ without due process.”

While the Nigerian government has not yet issued an official response to Monday’s report, Abuja has historically rejected the narrative of targeted religious cleansing. Africa’s most populous nation recently pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s claims that Christians are being exclusively targeted, sharing internal data to dispute the assertion.

Nigeria, home to approximately 230 million people, is roughly split down the middle between Muslim and Christian populations. While religious tensions exist, local authorities and security experts argue that the country’s violence is highly complex. Much of the bloodshed is driven by decades-old ethnic conflicts over access to vital resources such as land and water.

Furthermore, the relentless terrorism waged by insurgent groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State has proven indiscriminate, killing Muslims and Christians in almost equal proportions.