WASHINGTON — Republican Congressman Riley Moore issued a blunt warning to Nigeria’s top security officials on Tuesday, telling a high-powered delegation that the United States will no longer tolerate the “horrific violence and persecution” of Christians and expects “tangible steps” to halt attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants.
The closed-door meeting at the U.S. Capitol brought National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu together with Nigeria’s Attorney General, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu — one of the highest-level Nigerian delegations to visit Washington in recent years.
In a strongly worded statement released after the talks, Moore invoked President Donald Trump’s repeated pledges to protect persecuted Christians worldwide.
“I made it crystal clear that Christians must not be subjected to violence, persecution, displacement and death simply for their faith,” Moore said. “President Trump and Congress are united and serious in our resolve to end the violence against Christians and destroy terrorist groups inside Nigeria.”
The West Virginia lawmaker, who has championed legislation targeting what advocacy groups call a “genocide” against Nigerian Christians, told the delegation that deepened U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation hinges on visible progress in protecting vulnerable communities, particularly in the northeast and Middle Belt regions.
Nigeria remains one of the deadliest places on earth for Christians, with Open Doors ranking it among the top five countries for Christian persecution for several consecutive years. More than 3,000 people — the majority Christian — were killed in faith-related violence in the first ten months of 2025 alone, according to monitors.
While the delegation outlined Abuja’s counter-terrorism efforts and logistical challenges, Moore stressed that the United States stands ready to provide assistance — but only if Nigeria demonstrates concrete action.
No immediate comment was available from the Nigerian side, though sources familiar with the discussion described the tone as “frank but constructive.”
The meeting comes amid renewed U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s human-rights record under the second Trump administration, with several lawmakers threatening sanctions and aid restrictions if the bloodshed continues unchecked.
