By Peter Omopo
A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has accused the Nigerian government of failing to justify the billions of dollars in military assistance it has received from Washington, alleging continued killings of Christians in the country despite years of support.
Moore, who chairs the investigative committee set up by US President Donald Trump to probe alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria, made the allegations during an interview on The Dinesh D’Souza Show on Thursday night.
“My brothers and sisters in Christ are murdered for practising their faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ,” Moore said, condemning what he called years of silence from both Nigerian authorities and the international community.
He warned that the persistent attacks could spiral into a broader crisis if not urgently addressed.
“If we don’t do something about this, and some terrorists take hold in Nigeria, I promise you we will have to address it one way or another,” Moore said, adding that the US preferred to “address it cooperatively with Nigerians.”
The lawmaker criticised the Federal Government for what he described as a lack of urgency in protecting Christians, despite the extensive military and security support provided by the United States.
“We have provided them billions of dollars’ worth of security assistance, training, and equipment. Yet this issue remains unresolved, and the protection of Christians has not been prioritised,” Moore stated.
Describing the violence as a “forgotten genocide,” Moore accused global powers of allowing the crisis to “fly under the radar” for too long.
“If we are not going to stand up for this — for the very values we hold as Christians — then what are we standing for? This is not about nation-building or democracy; it’s about stopping murder,” he said.
The US lawmaker disclosed that his committee would soon present a formal report to President Trump, praising the former president for what he called “bold and decisive action” in defending persecuted Christians.
Earlier in the week, Trump had reiterated his stance on the issue, describing Nigeria as facing an “existential threat to Christianity.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed, and radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, announcing that Nigeria had been designated “a country of particular concern.”
Trump also warned that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening”, suggesting that military intervention could be considered if the killings persist.
However, the Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected the allegations, insisting that the country’s insecurity affects people of all faiths. Officials have maintained that there is no targeted genocide against Christians and that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious freedom for all citizens.
The federal authorities also argue that the ongoing security challenges — including banditry and terrorism — are driven by socio-economic and political factors rather than religious persecution.
