US Congressman Riley Moore visits Benue
United States Congressman Riley Moore on Wednesday shared accounts of violence against Christian communities in Benue State, recounting testimonies he said he heard during a visit to several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
In a post on X, Moore stated that he met “dozens of Christians who had been driven from their homes, subjected to horrific violence, and now reside in IDP camps.”
According to him, the people he spoke with described attacks that wiped out families and forced survivors to abandon their villages.
“They shared horrifying stories that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.
He cited one woman who said she was “forced to witness the killing of her husband and five children,” escaping only with her unborn child. Another woman told him her family “was murdered before her eyes and her baby was cut from her womb.”
Moore also mentioned a man who said “his family was hacked to death in his presence and his arm left permanently damaged.”
The congressman claimed that “over 600,000 Christians” are currently living in IDP camps across Benue, a state that has faced years of conflict involving farming communities and armed groups.
“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” he wrote, calling for increased international attention.
Moore said he also met Tiv leaders and Catholic clergy during his visit. “It was an honour to meet His Excellency Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ioruza, to discuss what they described as an ongoing genocidal campaign in Benue State,” he posted. He added that the stories shared by community leaders would not be ignored by the U.S.
Describing his trip as “very productive,” Moore said he held meetings in Abuja with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other officials. Their discussions, he said, focused on terrorism in the North-East and violence in the Middle Belt—issues he described as priorities for President Donald Trump and for himself.
He stated that both sides reviewed measures he believes could help strengthen security if fully implemented. Moore also referenced the rescue of more than 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, praising the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu for the operation.
He noted that U.S. concerns were “positively received,” pointing to what he described as an established U.S.–Nigeria joint task force as evidence of progress. However, he stressed that “openness must now translate into action,” adding that significant work remains.
The NSA confirmed receiving the U.S. delegation as part of ongoing security discussions. Ribadu said the visit followed earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., and focused on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and strengthening the strategic partnership between both countries.
READ ALSO: MURIC accuses media of ignoring Muslims in ‘Christian Genocide’ debate
The visit occurred amid increased diplomatic tension after the Trump administration redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, accompanied by warnings of possible U.S. military involvement. The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians, maintaining that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of faith.
On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon for discussions on coordinated responses to Nigeria’s security challenges. That same day, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on the implications of the redesignation.
Last Tuesday, House Republicans again raised concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump, who on October 31 instructed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he called the slaughter of Christians and report back to the White House.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
