United States Congressman Riley Moore has urged the Nigerian government to take urgent and decisive action against armed groups in the Middle Belt following the abduction of more than 300 children and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State on Friday.
In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, Moore expressed outrage over the attack, saying, “As a father, seeing these attacks makes my stomach turn.” He called on authorities to intensify efforts against those responsible, claiming the government “must disarm the radical Muslim Fulani militants terrorising the Middle Belt.”
Moore alleged that violence targeting Christians in Nigeria is worsening, describing the situation as “escalating out of control,” and adding, “I believe it is now a genocide.”
He called for closer collaboration between Washington and Abuja to address insecurity, saying it is “up to the Nigerian government to work with the United States to stop the killings and kidnappings of our brothers and sisters in Christ.” He warned that continued attacks could prompt a reaction from the US administration, adding, “This human tragedy has to end, or else, @POTUS has made it clear he will take action.”
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His comments come amid a series of kidnappings and violent attacks across northern Nigeria. On Monday, gunmen abducted at least 24 students from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
Moore’s statement also followed his meeting on Wednesday in Washington, DC, with a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. He described their discussions focused on counterterrorism and protecting vulnerable communities as “frank, honest, and productive.”
The Nigerian delegation included several top security and government officials, such as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, and Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt Gen Emmanuel Undiendeye.
This diplomatic engagement came shortly after US President Donald Trump stated that Christianity faces “an existential threat” in Nigeria, warning that if the Nigerian government fails to curb killings, the US response would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday that the delegation in Washington is working to correct what he described as misleading narratives particularly claims of religious persecution about Nigeria’s security landscape.
