By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, says he will on Friday introduce a new resolution mandating President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protect Christian communities and return displaced persons in Nigeria.
Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, announced the move on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, saying the resolution condemns what he described as the “ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria” and supports former President Donald Trump’s renewed efforts to defend “our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
He said thousands of Christians have been killed for their faith, adding that “the world has looked away for far too long.” Moore thanked Trump for his “incredible leadership” in standing up for Christians in Nigeria, noting that the former president’s “bold actions will save thousands of lives.”
In an interview with the New York Post, Moore said he hoped the measure would “help stop the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” which he blamed on Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed Fulani groups. He urged bipartisan support from fellow lawmakers, saying the U.S. must not remain silent “while Christians suffer grave persecution and even martyrdom.”
According to details from his office, the resolution calls on the U.S. government to use diplomatic, economic, and security tools to pressure Nigeria to protect Christians and other vulnerable groups, repeal blasphemy laws, release prisoners of faith, and return internally displaced persons to their homes.
It also encourages Washington to coordinate with international partners to deliver humanitarian aid through trusted NGOs and faith-based organisations.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said the country “will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion.” It added that Nigeria remains “a God-fearing nation that celebrates diversity, tolerance, and inclusion.”
The move comes amid renewed debate in Washington over President Joe Biden’s decision to remove Nigeria from the U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern” on religious freedom a status restored by Trump during his presidency.