A member of the United States Congress, Representative Riley Moore, has alleged that Christians in Nigeria have borne the brunt of violent attacks for over two decades and called for stronger action by Washington to address the crisis.
Moore, speaking on rising insecurity in Nigeria, said violence affects people of all faiths but claimed Christians are disproportionately targeted. “Violence and insecurity in Nigeria affects people of all faiths, but Christians bear the overwhelming brunt of the attacks and have suffered in silence for two decades,” he said.
He further alleged that Christians are “five times more likely to be killed than any other religious group,” accusing Fulani militias and terrorist organisations of frequently targeting Christian communities, including clergy, schools and churches.
Moore commended Donald Trump for what he described as a willingness to defend Christians globally, saying the current moment presents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria while confronting insecurity.
While acknowledging that Nigeria requires international support to tackle security challenges, Moore said the government of President Bola Tinubu must demonstrate stronger political will to protect vulnerable communities.
“The Tinubu government must demonstrate the political will to defend suffering Christians by allocating resources to immediately reduce and ultimately end this violence,” he said.
Moore proposed that any bilateral agreements between Washington and Abuja should be tied to measurable commitments by Nigeria. He suggested co-funding humanitarian assistance prioritising Christians in the Middle Belt, deploying early-warning systems and increasing armed security presence in high-risk areas.
He also called on Nigerian authorities to remove armed groups from occupied farmlands and facilitate the voluntary return of displaced communities.
In addition, Moore urged President Trump to consider sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals implicated in or tolerant of violence against Christians, arguing that the United States should deny entry to those responsible for attacks.
The remarks come amid ongoing debates in the US over religious freedom and security conditions in Nigeria, where authorities have consistently maintained that violence in the country is driven by complex factors, including banditry, terrorism, communal clashes and competition over land and resources.
