Rep. Riley M. Moore, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, addressed issues related to religious violence and historical persecution in a series of posts on March 25, 2026.
In one post, Moore highlighted ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria. On March 25, 2026, he wrote: “Christians in Nigeria continue to face brutal violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists.
The government in Abuja must step up and protect their citizens in the Middle Belt.
It’s past time to decentralize police authority so state governments can protect https://t.co/ErzzWbwIUk“
Earlier that day, Moore shared an article from WBOY12News with his followers, stating: “Read the full @WBOY12News article below
https://t.co/tJ3tHBtQ4S” (March 25, 2026).
Later on March 25, Moore referenced historical religious persecution in England: “In 16th and 17th-century England, Catholics faced severe legal penalties for practicing the Faith. Catholics were barred from holding public office, fined for missing Anglican services, and lived under constant suspicion. Henry VIII seized hundreds of monasteries and destroyed”
Violence against Christians in Nigeria has been widely documented by international organizations and news agencies. Attacks are often attributed to armed groups such as Boko Haram or local militias operating mainly in central regions known as the Middle Belt. Calls for decentralizing police authority have been made by various stakeholders within Nigeria who argue that state-level control could improve security responses.
Historical records confirm that during the reigns of English monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Catholics were subject to significant legal restrictions including exclusion from public office and financial penalties for not attending Anglican services.
