A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has described the Thursday’s US airstrikes in North-West Nigeria as the first step toward ending ongoing killings and tackling the country’s protracted security crisis.
Moore, who spoke on Friday via his X handle, said the strikes—carried out by US forces in coordination with the Nigerian government—were aimed at halting attacks by terrorist groups and restoring security across affected communities.
“The strikes are just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians,” Moore said, adding that President Donald Trump had made it 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,” he added.
The comments followed reports that US forces, acting under the directive of President Trump, conducted airstrikes against ISIS-linked terrorist elements operating in North West Nigeria.
In a separate post, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the operation was carried out with Nigeria’s cooperation.
“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 and cooperation,” Hegseth wrote.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that the airstrikes formed part of structured security cooperation with international partners to combat 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, he visited internally displaced persons’ camps, survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian leaders, and traditional rulers in Benue State.
The delegation also met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
Speaking on Fox News, Moore recounted accounts from victims and community leaders, alleging that the violence was a deliberate effort to target Christian populations.
“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,” he said.
Moore further disclosed that President Trump had tasked him and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole, to submit a report with recommendations by the end of the month, following Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
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