By Peter Omopo
A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has cautioned the Nigerian government against underestimating the resolve of U.S. President Donald Trump to act decisively over what he described as the continued killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Moore, in a statement released on Saturday, warned that President Trump was “serious about ending the ongoing slaughter of Christians” and urged Nigerian authorities not to test Washington’s patience on the matter.
“Do not test President Trump’s resolve. He is serious about ending the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore declared.
He further called on Nigeria to cooperate with the U.S. in addressing the crisis, saying, “I am asking the Nigerian government to do the right thing and partner with the United States to protect Christians and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The warning follows President Trump’s recent post on his Truth Social platform, in which he accused radical Islamist groups of being responsible for widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby designating Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”
He pledged that his administration would be “ready, willing, and able to protect our great Christian population around the world.”
President Trump also instructed members of Congress — including Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole — to investigate the situation and “report back to him” on the ongoing violence.
Earlier on November 1, Trump announced that he had directed the Pentagon to prepare possible military options against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, saying the move was necessary to safeguard Christian communities from extremist attacks.
In response, the Nigerian government rejected the allegations, reaffirming its commitment to religious freedom and protection of all faiths.
President Bola Tinubu stated that Nigeria “does not tolerate discrimination or persecution on the basis of religion,” stressing that the country remains committed to maintaining peace and religious harmony among its diverse population.
