US Congressman Riley Moore has expressed strong support for Thursday airstrikes carried out in Northwest Nigeria, calling the move a critical step towards protecting Christian communities and addressing the ongoing security crisis in the country.
In a statement shared via his X account on Friday, Moore emphasized that the airstrikes, which were executed in coordination with the Nigerian government, represent “just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the broader security crisis impacting all Nigerians.”
“President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end. Do not test his resolve in this matter,” Moore warned, echoing the US president’s firm stance on the need to end violence against Christians in Nigeria.
The strikes, directed by the Trump administration, targeted ISIS-linked terrorist groups in the region. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a follow-up post, confirmed that Washington acted in collaboration with Nigeria’s authorities, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
Moore’s comments came on the heels of his fact-finding mission to Nigeria, where he led a five-member congressional delegation to investigate attacks on Christian communities in the country.
During the mission, Moore visited internally displaced persons, survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian leaders, and local authorities in Benue State, which has been a focal point of violent extremism.
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Moore described the mission as deeply disturbing, recounting traumatic testimonies from victims. One particularly harrowing case involved a woman who had lost five children while pregnant.
Another survivor described the death of her husband, two daughters, and unborn child in a targeted attack on her family.
“This is one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria. They are trying to erase Christians from their ancestral homeland,” Moore said in a conversation with Fox News.
The congressman also revealed that President Trump has tasked him and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole with compiling a report by the end of the month, recommending actions to address the situation, following Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to allegations of widespread Christian killings.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the strikes as part of a broader effort of structured security cooperation with international partners, aimed at countering terrorism and violent extremism within the region.
As the security crisis in Nigeria continues to worsen, international support, particularly from the US, has become an essential component in efforts to safeguard vulnerable populations.
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