United States Congressman Riley Moore has released a chilling report following his fact-finding mission to Benue State, describing graphic accounts of violence that he says will haunt him “for the rest of my life.”
The visit, mandated by President Donald Trump to investigate alleged religious persecution, brought the US delegation face-to-face with the human cost of the crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Moore’s account paints a picture of systemic slaughter targeting Christian communities.
Accounts of Atrocity
While touring camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Moore interviewed dozens of survivors who had fled their ancestral homes. The testimonies he shared on X (formerly Twitter) were gruesome.
He recounted the story of a woman forced to watch the killing of her husband and five children, barely escaping with her own unborn child. In a separate, even more harrowing account, Moore stated that another woman witnessed her family’s murder before her baby was “ripped from her womb.”
The violence also left physical scars on the survivors. Moore described meeting a man whose arm was “permanently mangled” after he watched his family being hacked to death.
According to the Congressman’s assessment, the scale of displacement is massive, with “more than 600,000 Christians” currently languishing in IDP camps across the state.
The ‘Genocide’ Designation
Moore did not mince words regarding the perpetrators. Following consultations with Tiv traditional rulers and religious leaders—including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and HRH James Ioruza—Moore characterized the violence as a “genocidal campaign by the Fulani.”
“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” Moore asserted, insisting that the international community can no longer ignore these realities.
This terminology clashes with the official stance of the Nigerian Federal Government. Authorities in Abuja have repeatedly rejected claims of systemic religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity in the region affects citizens of all faiths equally.
From Investigation to Action
This mission was not merely observational. It follows a directive issued by President Trump on October 31, ordering the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the killing of Christians in Nigeria. This comes amid heightened tension after the US redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” regarding religious freedom.
During his visit, Moore held high-level talks with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The discussions focused on:
- Terrorism in the North-East.
- Killings in the Middle Belt.
- Operationalizing a joint task force between Nigeria and the US.
Moore acknowledged that his concerns were “positively received” by Nigerian officials and praised the government for the recent rescue of over 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren.
However, the Congressman warned that diplomatic pleasantries are no longer sufficient. While describing the visit as productive, he emphasized that “now, that openness has to translate to concrete action,” signaling that the US expects measurable results in curbing the violence.
