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A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has again warned the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government not to underestimate President Donald Trump’s determination to intervene in the ongoing killings of Christians across Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview posted on Saturday, Moore said Trump was “very serious” about ending what he described as the “slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria, stressing that the U.S. government was already drawing up possible military and diplomatic options.
“I have said this multiple times — do not test this president’s resolve. He is very serious about this,” Moore declared.
He made the remarks following a New York Times report titled “U.S. military draws up Nigeria plans with limited options to quell violence”, which revealed that the Pentagon was considering potential strategies to address the worsening insecurity in Nigeria but warned that American forces may have limited capacity to end the decades-long insurgency.
Moore urged the Nigerian government to take proactive steps by cooperating with the U.S. on security matters rather than waiting for external pressure.
“This is an opportunity for Nigerians to strengthen and deepen their relationship with the United States. We could do some enhanced partnership capacity building with them to counter this terrorist threat that is spreading across their country,” he said.
He added: “I’m asking Nigeria — do the right thing here. Partner with the United States. Help us protect the Christians in your country, and we will help you. This doesn’t have to be all sticks; it can also be carrots.”
However, the Congressman hinted that “kinetic military options” remained on the table if diplomatic engagements failed, emphasising that Trump would not hesitate to act decisively.
“The president has made it very clear he will consider these kinetic military options,” Moore warned.
The remarks come amid rising international concern over growing insecurity, especially attacks by groups and bandits targeting rural Christian communities across northern and central Nigeria.
Two Fridays ago, President Trump announced that, in response to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, he had redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
He made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, writing: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he wrote.
He went on to say the U.S. may conduct a military operation in the country if “killings of Christians” continue.
