A United States Congressman, Riley M. Moore, has warned that any attempt to destabilise Nigeria would embolden terrorists and worsen insecurity, particularly for Christians across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
Moore, who has been actively involved in legislative efforts addressing alleged violence against Christians in Nigeria, issued the warning in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, @RepRileyMoore, on Wednesday.
“A destabilised Nigeria would embolden terrorists and make Christians less safe in Nigeria and across the continent,” he said.
The US lawmaker disclosed that he had travelled to Nigeria and held several high-level engagements with government officials, church leaders, humanitarian organisations and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to gain first-hand insight into insecurity and religious persecution.
“I have travelled to Nigeria and engaged in multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups across the country, and IDPs, to get a better understanding of the rampant persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore said.
According to him, the idea of dividing Nigeria had never featured meaningfully in his discussions, warning that separatist agitations could worsen the plight of vulnerable communities.
“In my discussions, the idea of dividing the country has not come up in any serious way,” he said. “Efforts to embolden separatists hurt Christians in Nigeria—especially in the North and Middle Belt.”
Moore reaffirmed his commitment to supporting efforts aimed at ending terrorism and protecting civilians across the country.
“I remain committed to working to save the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ—and for that matter, all Nigerians—suffering from the instability wrought by terrorists throughout Nigeria,” he said.
The congressman welcomed the recent security cooperation agreement between the United States and Nigeria, describing it as a significant step toward addressing violence and strengthening bilateral ties.
“The US and Nigeria have just entered into a security cooperation agreement, and that is an important step in tackling the violence in Nigeria and deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between our great nations,” Moore said.
In November, Moore introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives condemning what he described as a genocide against Christians in Nigeria. He also supported former US President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” urging Washington to apply diplomatic, economic and security pressure to halt the killings.
However, following sustained diplomatic engagements between Abuja and Washington, the United States has since softened its stance toward Nigeria.
High-level visits have been exchanged between officials of both countries, paving the way for enhanced military and intelligence cooperation, including reported US-supported Christmas Day missile strikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State.
