US Congressman Urges Trump To Keep Nigeria On Christian Genocide Blacklist As Islamists Kill 20 In Plateau Again
A United States Congressman, Rep. Riley Moore, has condemned the latest massacre in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, declaring that the ongoing violence against Christians in the Middle Belt proves the country must not be removed from the US State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC).
The lawmaker’s statement was issued in response to a brutal attack on the Binper community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where gunmen killed at least 23 residents between midnight on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Rep. Moore rejected the notion of lifting Nigeria’s CPC designation, citing the recent bloodshed.
He argued that while there may be perceived security improvements in northern Nigeria, the Middle Belt region, where he claimed most attacks against Christians occurred, remained a killing field.
“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,” Moore wrote.
The Congressman specifically criticised the previous Biden Administration’s foreign policy, asserting that the decision to remove Nigeria from the CPC list after President Trump’s first term led to a surge in violence.
“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,” Moore stated.
The CPC designation is a significant US foreign policy tool that identifies governments engaged in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Removal from the list often signals improved conditions, while remaining on it can lead to sanctions or restrictions on foreign aid.
The attack in Binper village was characterized by extreme brutality.
According to residents and an eyewitness, the heavily armed assailants moved systematically through the village while residents were asleep, forcing entry into homes and slaughtering occupants.
“They were moving from house to house, opening the doors of people who were sleeping and slaughtering them,” an eyewitness told SaharaReporters. “As of this morning, we have confirmed over 20 deaths, while several others sustained serious injuries and some people are still missing.”
Videos circulating online following the incident showed distraught women from the community protesting the killing of their loved ones, underscoring the deep-seated trauma and insecurity plaguing Plateau State.
The attack in Mangu is the latest in a long series of violent incidents in the region, often stemming from clashes between nomadic herders and farming communities, which have taken on religious and ethnic dimensions over the years.
