A United States lawmaker, Representative Riley M. Moore, has condemned the recent killings in Plateau State, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to adequately protect vulnerable communities from violent attacks.
In a statement shared on X, Moore referenced Nigeria’s intervention during the political crisis in Benin Republic and questioned why similar urgency had not been shown in addressing insecurity at home.
“When I visited Nigeria, the government responded swiftly to quell a coup in Benin,” he wrote.
“Nigeria’s willingness to step in to stop a violent attack in another country, while they stand by as their own Christian citizens are brutalized, makes these absolutely horrific scenes unfolding in Plateau State all the more unconscionable.”
Moore alleged that Christians gathered for a mass burial after a previous attack were later targeted and killed by what he described as “radical Islamic terrorists.”
“Christians — who were gathered for a mass burial for those killed in a previous attack — were viciously murdered,” he said.
The congressman further stated that the Nigerian government had received warnings about impending attacks but failed to act decisively.
“The Nigerian Government could root out the terrorism and stop the martyrdom of its own citizens. But, despite receiving early warnings of impending attacks, they are nowhere to be found as Christians are murdered for their faith,” he added.
Calling the situation an “ongoing Christian genocide” in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Moore appealed to the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump to take what he described as “forceful action” in defence of affected communities.
The statement came in reaction to reports about renewed violence in Plateau State, where several people were killed while conducting mass burial of victims of previous attack.