US Congress Delegation Concludes Nigeria Mission, Prepares Report on Alleged Attacks Against Christians

A United States congressional delegation led by Congressman Riley Moore has completed a fact-finding mission in Nigeria to investigate alleged attacks targeting Christian communities, with plans to brief President Donald Trump before the end of the month. The delegation, comprising five members of Congress, arrived in Nigeria on Sunday and conducted extensive field visits, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, communities affected by terrorist attacks, and meetings with local leaders. Benue State, a region known for recurrent violent incidents, was a primary focus of the trip.

During their visit, the delegation met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, as well as Catholic and Protestant leaders, bishops, and traditional rulers. Moore described the findings as deeply shocking, sharing accounts of extreme violence against civilians. He recounted a woman who, while pregnant, witnessed the murder of her five children, and another who lost her husband, two daughters, and unborn child during an attack. “It was really shocking — the stories we heard, the imagery. I have never witnessed anything like that in my life,” Moore said during an interview on Fox News.

The delegation traveled through Benue State in armoured vehicles due to significant security risks. Moore emphasized that IDP camps were also targeted, challenging claims that the violence is primarily driven by climate change or land disputes. “For those who say this is about climate change or economics, why would you burn down a church? Why would you attack an IDP camp screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’? It is very clear what the answer is,” he said, indicating that Christian communities appear to be deliberately targeted.

The mission aimed to gather detailed, on-the-ground evidence to inform the US administration. Moore confirmed that President Trump tasked him and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole with compiling a comprehensive report on the situation. The findings will be submitted to the President by the end of December.

President Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” in late October over alleged persecution of Christians, a designation that the Nigerian government has contested, maintaining that the country’s ongoing security challenges are not religiously motivated. The congressional delegation’s visit and forthcoming report are expected to influence US policy and diplomatic engagement with Nigeria regarding the protection of vulnerable communities.