On October 15, 2025, a letter to President Trump was signed by prominent American Christian leaders and was delivered to the White House. It appeals to President Trump to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for the egregious persecution of Christians there. The List of Signatories can be found at the end of the letter, including Dr. William L. Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights.
“We fervently urge you to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, as you did in your first term. The last several years have seen a burgeoning of violent attacks specifically targeting rural Christians in the country’s Middle Belt, while the government in Abuja barely lifts a finger to protect them. U.S. law warrants CPC designation when a country is found to be “tolerating” serious violations of religious freedom, as well as when itself carries out violations. The Nigerian government is directly violating religious freedom by enforcing Islamic blasphemy laws that carry the death penalty and harsh prison sentences against citizens of various religions. It also demonstrably tolerates relentless aggression uniquely against Christian farming families by militant Fulani Muslim herders, who appear intent on forcibly Islamizing the Middle Belt.”