A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has accused the Nigerian government of failing to justify the billions of dollars in military assistance it has received from Washington, as the killing of citizens in different parts of the country persists.
Moore, who chairs the investigative committee established by U.S. President Donald Trump to probe alleged religious persecution in Nigeria, made the remarks during an interview on The Dinesh D’Souza Show on Thursday night.
“My brothers and sisters in Christ are being murdered for practising their faith,” Moore said, condemning what he described as years of silence from both Nigerian authorities and the international community.
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He warned that the violence could have dire consequences if not addressed promptly.
“If we don’t act now, terrorists could entrench themselves in Nigeria. I’d rather see this addressed through cooperation than confrontation,” he said.
Moore criticised the Nigerian government for what he called a lack of urgency in safeguarding Christians despite substantial U.S. assistance.
“Billions of dollars in military aid, training, and equipment have been provided to help address this crisis, yet the protection of Christians has not been prioritised,” he said.
The lawmaker lamented that the crisis had persisted “under the radar” for too long, describing it as a “forgotten genocide.” He called for immediate and concrete steps by both Nigeria and its international partners to end the violence.
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Earlier, Moore pledged to submit his committee’s findings to President Trump, saying the report would outline recommendations for action.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your leadership in defending persecuted Christians,” he wrote. “Your decisive action will save thousands of lives.”
President Trump had earlier reiterated his stance that Christianity faced an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Islamists,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding that he had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern.”
He directed Congress to investigate the matter and warned that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities continue,” suggesting possible intervention if the violence persists.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, however, dismissed the claims, rejecting the characterisation of the crisis as religious genocide. Officials maintain that the security challenges affect both Christians and Muslims alike and insist that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees full freedom of religion.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
