A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has criticised the attacks on Christians in Nigeria, cautioning that the situation could affect diplomatic ties with the US, following reports of a deadly Palm Sunday incident in Jos, Plateau State.
In a post via X on Monday, the lawmaker described the reported killing of at least 10 Christians in Anguwan Rukuba on Sunday as part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting worshippers during religious observances.
Moore, who participated in a United States fact-finding mission on alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, added that such incidents have become frequent during Christian holy periods, urging Nigerian authorities to take firm action to prevent further bloodshed.
“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos. Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on the Christians before hacking them to pieces with machetes. This is sickening and unacceptable, but it’s not surprising,” he stated.
“This tragedy follows a pattern of radical Islamic terrorists massacring Christians on Holy Days. In fact, terrorists have attacked Christians in Nigeria on every single holy day in recent memory, except for last Christmas when President Trump sent 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles to stop them.”
The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to urgently strengthen security measures ahead of upcoming religious events.
“Abuja knows this pattern, and they must massively ramp up security for the Triduum and Easter. If they don’t take this threat seriously and mobilize to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, blood of these martyrs will be on their hands, and there will be significant consequences for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States,” he stated.
Plateau State, like other parts of the North-Central and North-West regions, has experienced repeated attacks by non-state actors in recent times.
On March 14, suspected bandits reportedly killed 20 people and rustled cattle during an attack on a village in Jos, according to a local development organisation.
The Kanam Development Association (KADA) said the gunmen ambushed soldiers on routine patrol.
“In the unfortunate exchange of gunfire that followed the ambush, our nation lost brave defenders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty,” KADA stated, adding that 12 security personnel and eight civilians who joined in defending their communities lost their lives.
The attackers later invaded a nearby community and looted property, including cattle.
“This further compounds the suffering of already vulnerable rural communities,” KADA added, noting that villages in the area have faced repeated attacks and kidnappings in recent years.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to battle insurgency, with the military’s efforts to curb rising extremist violence complicated by the presence of multiple armed groups across affected regions.