A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, described his recent visit to Nigeria as “really heartbreaking,” highlighting the devastating impact of violence in the country, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
Moore, who led a five-member congressional delegation, spent several days meeting survivors of violent attacks, internally displaced persons, Christian leaders, and traditional rulers in Benue State. The delegation also held discussions in Abuja with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Moore recounted harrowing experiences, including meeting women who had lost multiple family members in brutal attacks. “I met a woman who unfortunately had to witness all five of her children murdered right in front of her. I met another woman in an IDP camp who lost her husband and two daughters, and her unborn child was taken from her by Fulani Islamic radicals,” he said.
Moore alleged that the violence in parts of the Middle Belt amounts to a systematic campaign targeting Christian communities and driving them off their ancestral lands. “There is a systematic genocidal campaign by the Fulani Muslim radicals in the Middle Belt of this country to push these Christians off their ancestral land,” he said.
Despite the grim findings, Moore said the delegation had constructive discussions with Nigerian officials and expressed hope for a strategic plan to improve security. “We did have a positive meeting with the Nigerian government. There are positive things coming out of that government that I think will put us on a path toward a strategic security framework and a cooperative agreement to start addressing these issues,” he added.
The US lawmaker emphasized that protecting Christians facing violence remains a top concern, alongside addressing broader threats from terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS in the North East. He called for a comprehensive approach to tackle both terrorism and the targeted persecution occurring in theMiddle Belt.
