United States Congressman Riley Moore has pushed for sweeping sanctions against certain Nigerian actors accused of involvement in violence against Christian communities, warning that Washington must take stronger action over what he described as worsening religious persecution.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made the call while defending a proposed legislation aimed at expanding the U.S. government’s authority to punish individuals and groups allegedly linked to attacks on Christians in Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on Newsmax, the lawmaker claimed the bill would provide the American administration with “more tools” to confront extremists responsible for faith-based violence.
According to him, the proposed measure focuses on identifying and sanctioning “bad actors,” including armed groups he accused of terrorising Christian populations. He argued that the scale of violence against Christians in Nigeria is unprecedented and requires urgent international intervention.
Moore recently introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, a bill designed to strengthen U.S. response to religious persecution. The legislation is co-sponsored by Chris Smith and Tom Cole.
If passed, the bill would require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress detailing actions taken against religious persecution in Nigeria. It also proposes possible sanctions on identified individuals, a review of U.S. assistance to Nigeria, and consideration of designating certain armed groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.
Moore stated that the initiative builds on previous actions by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had earlier designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom issues. He added that the legislation would reinforce Washington’s commitment to protecting Christian communities globally, particularly in regions facing persistent violence.
The bill cites years of deadly attacks, kidnappings, village destruction and mass displacement allegedly carried out by extremist organisations such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups. It claims tens of thousands of Christians have been killed and thousands of churches attacked over the past decade and a half.
Moore further warned that continued instability and religious violence in Nigeria could threaten regional security in West Africa and undermine broader U.S. foreign policy interests.
Nigerian authorities have repeatedly maintained that the country’s security challenges are complex and not solely driven by religious motives, often attributing violence to terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts.
The proposed legislation is expected to face debate in the U.S. Congress in the coming months.