A United States congressional delegation led by Congressman Riley Moore has concluded a fact-finding visit to Nigeria over allegations of widespread killings and is expected to deliver a high-level briefing to President Donald Trump before the end of the month.
The five-member team arrived in Nigeria on Sunday and met with Internally Displaced Persons, survivors of attacks, Christian communities, religious leaders, and traditional rulers, with much of their visit centred on Benue State. They also met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Speaking on a Fox News programme hosted by Harris Faulkner on Thursday, Moore said the delegation encountered deeply distressing testimonies from victims of violent attacks, describing the experience as the most unsettling of his career.
“It was shocking — the stories and imagery. I have never seen anything like it,” he said. “I met a woman who lost her entire family. Five of her children were killed in front of her while she was pregnant. She later gave birth in an IDP camp. You can tell she is deeply traumatised. And there are many stories like hers.”
He recounted another case involving a woman who lost her husband, two daughters and her unborn child during an attack, adding that the pattern of violence raised concerns about whether Christian communities were being specifically targeted.
Moore noted that the delegation travelled across Benue State in armoured vehicles due to security threats, meeting with Catholic and Protestant leaders, bishops, and community heads to gather what he described as “ground truth”.
“This is a fact-finding mission. Benue is one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria. This is where many Christian communities have suffered devastating attacks. But I believed we needed to see it firsthand,” he said.
He questioned claims that the violence was driven by climate pressures or land disputes, pointing to attacks on churches and IDP camps.
“For those who say this is about economics or climate change — why burn down a church? Why attack an IDP camp while shouting certain phrases? The intentions behind these attacks appear clear,” he said.
Moore confirmed that President Trump instructed him and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to compile a comprehensive report on the situation.
“We will brief the President and make our recommendations. He asked Chairman Tom Cole and me to submit a report, and we intend to do that before the end of the month,” he said.
In late October, President Trump designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in relation to alleged targeted killings of Christians — a position the Nigerian government has rejected, maintaining that the country’s security challenges are complex and not religiously motivated.
