You Signed The Law – US Lawmaker Slams Kwankwaso Over Alleged Role In Death Of Christians

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A member of the United States Congress, Rep. Riley M. Moore, who represents West Virginia’s Second District, has publicly criticized former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over his comments denying allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

The reaction follows Kwankwaso’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that “an organized genocide is being carried out against Christians” in the country.

Kwankwaso Denies Claims of Religious Genocide

Speaking in response to the designation and Trump’s warning of potential U.S. intervention, Kwankwaso dismissed the claim of a religiously motivated genocide.

“Nigeria remains a sovereign nation facing security challenges caused by outlaws, not by religion or ethnicity. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,” the former governor said.

Kwankwaso cautioned against what he called “careless foreign statements” that could worsen Nigeria’s internal divisions. He urged the international community to adopt a more nuanced understanding of the country’s complex security landscape.

Rep. Moore’s Response

Reacting to Kwankwaso’s comments via his verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle, Rep. Riley Moore accused the former Kano governor of “complicity in the death of Christians” and criticized his record on religious freedom.

In his post, Moore alleged that Kwankwaso instituted Sharia law in Kano State during his tenure and signed provisions that made blasphemy punishable by death, a claim yet to be independently verified.

“Governor, do you care to comment on your own complicity in the death of Christians? You instituted Sharia law. You signed the law that makes so-called blasphemy punishable by death,” Moore wrote.

Background

Kano State operates a form of Sharia-based legal system applicable to Muslims, alongside Nigeria’s secular constitutional framework. While the Sharia legal code includes provisions for blasphemy, death sentences passed under these laws have often been overturned or delayed by higher courts, citing constitutional concerns.

Neither Kwankwaso nor his political movement, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has officially responded to Moore’s allegations as of press time.

Expert Reactions

Political analysts describe Moore’s remarks as part of a growing international discourse around religious freedom and governance in Nigeria. Diplomatic experts also caution that such exchanges could further strain relations between Nigerian officials and Western policymakers, especially amid ongoing debates about the country’s human rights record.