United States Congressman Riley Moore has opposed any move by the U.S. Department of State to lift Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing continued attacks on Christian communities in the country’s Middle Belt.

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made his position known on Tuesday in a post on his X handle while reacting to a deadly attack in Plateau State.

At least 24 people were killed when gunmen attacked the Bin-Per community in Ruff, Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area, between Monday night and Tuesday.

“This is exactly why the @StateDept cannot lift Nigeria’s CPC designation,” Moore said.

He alleged that Christians were being attacked across the Middle Belt and argued that the situation had not improved sufficiently to justify removing Nigeria from the CPC list.

“Christians are being slaughtered across the Middle Belt with impunity. There may be progress in the north, but nothing has changed in the Middle Belt where most attacks against Christians occur,” he said.

Moore also criticised the decision by the administration of former President Joe Biden to remove Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021.

“We cannot make the same mistake the Biden Administration made. Biden removed the CPC designation from Nigeria after President Trump’s first term and all hell broke loose on Christians. We must stop the genocide,” he said.

The lawmaker’s comments followed the attack on Bin-Per community, where the victims were given a mass burial on Tuesday.

Several other residents injured in the attack were receiving treatment in hospitals, while women from the community staged a peaceful protest, marching with leaves and demanding urgent government action to protect residents.

U.S.-Nigeria Security Talks

Moore also referenced recent discussions between the United States and Nigeria on security and the protection of vulnerable communities.

He quoted U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, who said she had hosted Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in Washington for the second session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group.

Hooker said the United States remained committed to safeguarding Christian communities and had identified concrete measures to protect people facing violence.

She also said Washington would continue to hold countries accountable for ensuring that Christians could practise their faith without threats or persecution.

Responding to the statement, Moore urged the State Department to maintain Nigeria’s CPC designation.

“DO NOT remove the CPC designation for Nigeria. They have not done near enough to protect Christians! They continue to get slaughtered!!” he said.

Nigeria’s CPC Designation

Nigeria was first designated a Country of Particular Concern by the United States in 2020 over what Washington described as severe violations of religious freedom.

The designation was removed by the Biden administration in 2021 but reinstated by President Donald Trump on October 31, 2025.

Moore has remained a prominent congressional advocate for maintaining the designation and increasing U.S. pressure over violence against Christian communities in Nigeria.

In November 2025, he introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and calling for stronger measures to address the situation.