A high-level delegation of United States lawmakers and diplomats on Sunday visited Nigeria on a security-focused fact-finding mission, as scrutiny intensifies in Washington over worsening violence and targeted attacks on Christian communities across the country.
The visit adds a new layer of international pressure on Nigeria’s security establishment, with several U.S. congressional voices raising alarm over what they describe as large-scale persecution and unchecked killings in parts of the North and other regions.
One of the visiting lawmakers, Rep. Riley Moore, stated in a post on X: “I came to Nigeria in the name of the Lord and on behalf of the American people. Just ending a very productive visit to Nigeria and rounds of meetings. More details to come. Happy Sunday. God is Great!”
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed hosting the delegation in Abuja after earlier engagements with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., centred on joint security priorities.
Ribadu stated that the visiting team included Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Riley M. Moore, alongside the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills. Their presence underscored the significance both countries place on ongoing security cooperation.
During the meeting, discussions centred on counter-terrorism efforts, strategies for stabilising the region, and ways to strengthen Nigeria–U.S. security relations. Ribadu expressed optimism that the engagement would build deeper trust and reinforce both nations’ commitment to peace and stability.
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The mission comes at a time when the U.S. Congress is heightening its oversight of Nigeria’s security situation. Several American lawmakers—including members of the House Appropriations Committee and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom—have in recent months criticised Nigeria’s handling of violent attacks, describing them as part of a “genocidal campaign” by extremist groups and armed militias.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the House Appropriations Committee warned that Nigeria was “rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous places on Earth to follow Christ,” pledging to press for stronger diplomatic action and stricter conditions on security assistance.
Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Intersociety, and Open Doors have, for years, documented mass killings, widespread abductions, village burnings, and assaults carried out by armed groups—leaving thousands of civilians dead annually.
However, the Nigerian government rejects the genocide narrative, arguing that the violence stems from banditry, terrorism, and resource-based conflicts rather than religious persecution. Despite that stance, Nigeria was listed as a Country of Particular Concern under the Donald Trump administration, a designation that intensified global scrutiny.
The presence of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the delegation signals rare bipartisan agreement in Washington over Nigeria’s security challenges. Rep. Riley Moore, in particular, has been outspoken on the issue, urging U.S. authorities to reassess military aid and tighten oversight on how American security assistance is deployed in Nigeria.
The delegation is expected to release further details of its findings after concluding its engagements in the country.
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