US report claims Nigeria is world’s deadliest place for Christians...

A United States congressional panel established by President Donald Trump to investigate allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria has formally submitted its findings to the White House.

The development was disclosed by Congressman Riley M. Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Moore announced the submission late Monday in a post on his 𝕏 account, sharing a photograph of himself at the White House holding what appeared to be a file containing the report.

“Just presented our report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House. More to come,” he wrote.

CBI News reports that the panel was constituted after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025 over alleged persecution of Christians.

Following the designation, Trump directed Moore and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to lead a congressional investigation into the matter.

The two-page report, titled Ending The Persecution of Christians in Nigeria, commended the President for what it described as “decisive action” in redesignating Nigeria as a CPC to hold perpetrators accountable and compel the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities.

“The United States Congress commends President Trump for his decisive action to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) to hold perpetrators of violence to account and compel the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable communities and end religious persecution,” the report stated.

It explained that the President tasked Congressman Moore, Chairman Cole, and the House Appropriations Committee with investigating “the persecution and slaughter of Nigerian Christians.”

As part of the probe, Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart hosted an investigative roundtable and led a Congressional delegation to Nigeria, while House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith held a hearing to gather evidence from government and civil society witnesses.

Under its findings, the panel declared, “After decades of persecution, Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”

It alleged that Christians face “ongoing violent attacks from well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups,” resulting in “the death and murder of tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests,” alongside the destruction of churches and schools, and widespread kidnappings.

The report further criticised blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria, claiming they are used to “silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called ‘convictions’ without due process.”

While describing Nigeria as a key U.S. partner, the panel insisted that the government must show political will, including committing its own financial resources, to reduce and eliminate the violence.

It added that President Trump’s action has created “a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change to address this two-decade-long crisis.”

In its recommendations, the panel proposed a bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities, eliminate jihadist terror activity, expand economic cooperation, and counter foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.

Among other measures, it urged Nigeria to co-fund humanitarian assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), deploy adequate security forces to the Middle Belt, remove Fulani militias from confiscated farmland, and expand security cooperation with the United States, including divesting from Russian military equipment in favour of American systems.

The report also called for technical support to disarm armed groups through demobilisation and reintegration programmes, enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation, sanctions and visa restrictions for perpetrators of violence against Christians, repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws, and stronger oversight of U.S. aid to Nigeria.

Additionally, it recommended invoking CPC Presidential Directives to “name and shame perpetrators of violence,” reviewing the possible designation of certain militia groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, and enlisting international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to address the crisis.