A congressional panel established at the direction of Donald Trump has formally submitted its findings on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House, marking a significant development in U.S.–Nigeria relations.
The submission was announced by Riley M. Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a post shared late Monday on his 𝕏 account, Moore revealed that he had personally delivered the panel’s report.
“Just presented our report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House.
More to come,” he wrote, alongside a photograph of himself holding what appeared to be the completed report inside the White House.
Background to the Panel’s Formation
The investigative panel was constituted after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025, citing what his administration described as escalating violence and systemic persecution targeting Christian communities.
Following that designation, Trump directed Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to spearhead a congressional investigation into the allegations.
The mandate was to examine claims of widespread killings, displacement, and religious repression, and to produce actionable recommendations.
The investigation drew on multiple congressional efforts. Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart convened an investigative roundtable and led a congressional delegation to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith held hearings to gather testimony from government officials, civil society representatives, and subject-matter experts.
Lawmakers described the collaboration as comprehensive, culminating in what they called a decisive set of findings and recommendations.
Key Findings: “The Deadliest Place to Be a Christian”
In its two-page report titled Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the panel paints a stark picture.
It asserts that after decades of sustained violence, Nigeria has become “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.” According to the report, tens of thousands of Christians — including pastors and priests — have been killed in attacks attributed to well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist organizations. Thousands of churches and schools have allegedly been destroyed, and kidnappings remain widespread.
The report also criticizes the use of blasphemy laws in Nigeria’s northern states, arguing that such laws suppress dissent, disproportionately target Christians and religious minorities, and enable convictions without due process.
Despite characterizing Nigeria as a key U.S. partner, the panel stresses that the Nigerian government must demonstrate greater political will and commit its own financial resources to stem the violence.
“President Trump’s bold action,” the report states, “has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change.”
Strategic Reset: A Proposed Bilateral Agreement
Central to the panel’s recommendations is a proposed bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria.
The envisioned pact would focus on protecting vulnerable Christian communities, combating jihadist terrorism, expanding economic cooperation, and countering foreign adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.
Proposed Commitments for Nigeria
The panel calls on Nigeria to:
1. Co-fund humanitarian assistance programs, including those delivered through faith-based organizations, with special priority for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the predominantly Christian Middle Belt region.
2. Strengthen and respond to early-warning systems designed to prevent attacks and kidnappings.
3. Deploy sufficient and capable security forces to volatile areas and hold officials accountable for ignoring security alerts.
4. Remove Fulani militias from confiscated farmland and facilitate the safe, voluntary return of displaced communities.
5. Expand security cooperation with the United States, including divesting from Russian military equipment in favor of American defense systems.
Security and Counterterrorism Measures
The report recommends technical support from the United States to help Nigeria reduce and ultimately eliminate violence linked to armed Fulani militias. Suggested measures include:
1. Establishing demobilisation, disarmament, and reintegration programs to curb illicit weapons proliferation.
2. Supporting Nigeria’s new Ministry of Livestock, ranching initiatives, and land reform efforts.
3. Enhancing the capacity, recruitment, and responsiveness of Nigerian security forces.
The panel further calls for intensified counterterrorism cooperation to dismantle Foreign Terrorist Organizations operating in the region.
It proposes the use of excess U.S. defense equipment and relevant drawdown authorities to strengthen Nigeria’s capabilities.
Additionally, the report urges action against illegal Chinese mining operations, which it alleges destabilize communities by paying protection money to armed groups.
Financial Oversight, Sanctions, and Diplomatic Leverage
The panel recommends implementing provisions of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, to support its agenda. It emphasizes:
1. Conditioning future U.S. funding on measurable progress.
2. Strengthening anti-money laundering efforts and disrupting terrorist financing networks.
3. Treasury Department programs to reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
4. Expanded investments by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, particularly in the Middle Belt.
5. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit to evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. aid to Nigeria.
It also calls for invoking CPC Presidential Directives to publicly name perpetrators of violence and for imposing sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals and groups responsible for religious persecution.
Among the more controversial proposals are demands for the repeal of sharia codes and anti-blasphemy laws, reviewing whether certain Fulani militia groups should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, and using trade leverage — including blocking cattle-related exports — to pressure armed groups to disarm.
Strengthening Diplomatic and Military Engagement
The report concludes by recommending:
1. Adequate staffing of U.S. diplomatic posts in Nigeria.
2. Streamlining the Foreign Military Sales process to accelerate defense procurement.
3. Requiring a National Intelligence Estimate on Nigeria’s sectarian and communal violence.
4. Enlisting international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom in coordinated efforts.
A Pivotal Moment
With the report now in the hands of the White House, attention turns to how the administration will respond.
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Lawmakers behind the initiative argue that the moment represents a critical opportunity to reshape U.S.–Nigeria relations — one centered on religious freedom, security cooperation, and strategic competition.
Whether the recommendations translate into policy action remains to be seen.
For now, the submission signals that Washington’s scrutiny of Nigeria’s religious violence has entered a new and consequential phase.
