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A member of the United States Congress, Representative Riley Moore, has alleged that Christians in Nigeria have borne the overwhelming brunt of violent attacks over the past two decades, urging Washington to adopt firmer measures in its engagement with Abuja.
Moore, who spoke on what he described as worsening insecurity in Nigeria, maintained that while violence affects citizens across religious lines, 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,” Moore said.
He further claimed that Christians are significantly more vulnerable in the ongoing wave of attacks.
“Christians are five times more likely to be killed than any other religious group,” he alleged, adding that Fulani militias and terrorist groups frequently target Christian communities.
According to him, “Fulani militias and terrorist groups constantly attack Christians, targeting pastors and priests, burning schools and churches, often on holy days. They have killed tens of thousands.”
Moore commended former US President 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.
“President Trump’s decisive action and eagerness to defend Christians has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deepen and strengthen the relationship between our two nations and confront this crisis head on,” he said.
While acknowledging that Nigeria requires international support to address its security challenges, the congressman stressed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu must demonstrate stronger political will.
“The Tinubu government must demonstrate the political will to defend suffering Christians by allocating resources to immediately reduce and ultimately end this violence,” he stated.
Moore proposed that any bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja should be tied to measurable commitments by Nigeria.
Among the conditions he listed were co-funding donor-supported humanitarian assistance prioritising Christians in the Middle Belt, implementing early-warning systems to detect impending attacks, and deploying armed security forces to prevent violence.
He also urged Nigerian authorities to remove Fulani militias from what he described as confiscated farmlands and facilitate the voluntary return of displaced communities.
“But critically, all of this must be contingent upon the Nigerian government providing proof of progress that it is, in fact, working to stabilize the country and protect Christians,” Moore emphasised.
The US lawmaker further called on American authorities to consider sanctions and visa restrictions for individuals allegedly involved in or tolerating violence against Christians.
“America has a right to control who enters our country and when. We should certainly reject anyone who is attacking our brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.
He also advocated aggressive efforts to disarm Fulani militias, alleging that they are “more responsible than any other group, including ISWAP and Boko Haram, for the attacks on Christians in Nigeria.”
