A United States of America Congressman, Riley Moore has slammed President Bola Tinubu and members of his cabinet for denying claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Moore who represents Erdt Virginia 2nd District reiterated the US’s position on the alleged complacency by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the alleged killing of Christians across various states in the North.
Moore’s reaction follows the president’s denial of the allegations which led to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, threat of military invasion and termination of aid to the country by the US president, Donald Trump.
Tinubu in a statement had said, “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” Nigeria’s president stated.
However, Moore while addressing a question from the television host on the matter said, “You know, unfortunately that is completely false, there are states in Nigeria that have blasphemy laws,” Moore said.
Citing the case of a Christian farmer in Adamawa State, Sunday Jackson for defending himself against a marauding armed Fulani herdsman who tried to kill him on his farmland.
Recall that the apex court on Friday, March 7, 2025, upheld the death sentence of Jackson, 30, for killing a Fulani herdsman, Ardo Bawuro.
Moore said, “People who are facing the death penalty right now for blasphemy against Islam. There’s a person, currently right now who is held in prison for defending himself from an attack from a Muslim militant – from the Fulani tribe.
“He defended himself and he’s facing the death penalty. So is serious persecution happening in Nigeria and I know the president Tinubu is in a difficult position and trying to protect his interest there in the country but there is complacency in this, in one degree or the other with statements like this,” the US Congressman added.