United States Congressman Riley Moore on Wednesday shared disturbing accounts of violence against Christian communities in Benue State, detailing what he heard during his visit to camps for internally displaced persons.
Writing on X, Moore said that while in Benue, he met “dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence and now live in IDP camps.”
He explained that the people he spoke with described brutal attacks that wiped out entire families, forcing survivors to flee their villages.
“They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.
He referenced one woman who “was forced to watch as they killed her husband and five children. She and her unborn child barely escaped.”
Another woman told him her family “was murdered in front of her and her baby was ripped from her womb.”
Moore further highlighted the account of a man who said “his family was hacked to death in front of his eyes and his arm was permanently mangled.”
According to the congressman, “more than 600,000 Christians” are currently living in IDP camps in Benue State, an area long affected by clashes between farming communities and armed groups. He added that “these Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” calling for stronger international focus on the situation.
Moore also noted that he met Tiv and Catholic leaders during his visit. He wrote that it was “an honour and deeply moving” to meet Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ioruza to discuss the crisis in Benue.
He said the US would not overlook the experiences shared by local communities.
Describing his trip as a “very productive visit to Nigeria,” Moore said he also held discussions with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other senior officials, focusing on terrorism in the North-East and violence in the Middle Belt—issues he said remain priorities for President Donald Trump and himself.
He added that both sides reviewed steps he believes could enhance security if fully implemented. Moore also mentioned the recent rescue of more than 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, praising the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu for the operation.
He said US concerns were “positively received,” pointing to what he described as a “now established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as evidence of progress. However, he stressed that “now, that openness has to translate to concrete action,” noting that significant work remains.
The NSA confirmed hosting the delegation as part of ongoing security engagements, explaining that the meetings followed earlier discussions in Washington, DC, and focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening the strategic security partnership between both nations.
The visit took place during a period of diplomatic strain following the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, accompanied by warnings of possible US military intervention.
The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects Nigerians of all faiths.
On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon for talks on coordinated strategies to address the country’s security challenges. That same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on the implications of Nigeria’s redesignation.
Last Tuesday, House Republicans raised renewed concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a briefing ordered by President Trump, who on October 31 directed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate “the slaughter of Christians” and report their findings to the White House.