A United States Congressman, Mr Riley Moore, has described recent airstrikes carried out in North-West Nigeria as a decisive step toward addressing insecurity and protecting Christian communities in the country.
Moore made the remarks on Friday in a post on his X handle, saying the airstrikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian Government.
According to him, the operation marked “just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians.”
“President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end.
“As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump’s resolve in this matter,” Moore said.
The comments followed reports that United States forces, acting under the directive of President Donald Trump, carried out airstrikes against ISIS-linked terrorist elements operating in parts of North-West Nigeria.
In a related development, the US Defence Secretary, Mr Pete Hegseth, said the action was taken with the cooperation of the Nigerian authorities.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The Department of War is always ready…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote in a separate post.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the airstrikes were part of structured security cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism.
Moore recently concluded a fact-finding mission to Nigeria to investigate alleged attacks on Christian communities, which he described as deeply disturbing.
Leading a five-member congressional delegation, the lawmaker visited internally displaced persons’ camps, survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian leaders and traditional rulers in Benue State.
The delegation also held meetings with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi.
Speaking earlier on Fox News, Moore recounted what he described as harrowing cases, including that of a woman who lost five children while pregnant, and another who lost her husband, two daughters and her unborn child.
He described the violence as a deliberate targeting of Christians.
“This is one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria. They are trying to erase Christians in Benue and across Nigeria from their ancestral homeland,” Moore said.
The congressman further said President Trump had tasked him and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Mr Tom Cole, to submit a report with recommendations by the end of the month.
He said the directive followed Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
