By Peter Omopo
A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, describing the attack as “horrific” and calling for prayers for the victims.
Moore, in a post on X on Tuesday, wrote, “Please join me in praying for the 25 girls who have been kidnapped and for the repose of the soul of their vice principal, who was killed.”
He further claimed that the incident occurred in “a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria,” adding that “the Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence.”
However, his comment sparked immediate criticism from Nigerians who said the lawmaker misrepresented the religious identity of the community affected.
Responding to Moore, a former Senior Special Assistant on New Media to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, corrected the claim, saying the attack took place in a Muslim-majority community.
“While appreciating your concern and praying for our sisters, it is important to correct a crucial detail — the attack did not occur in a Christian enclave,” Ahmad wrote.
“It happened within a Muslim community, and the victims themselves were Muslims. This is why we keep saying that even you, Americans, either do not understand the complexity of Nigeria’s insecurity challenges or you are deliberately pushing narratives that risk worsening our fragile unity,” he added.
The exchange comes amid ongoing debates between Nigerian authorities and some US officials over claims of “Christian genocide” in parts of the country — a characterisation Nigerian officials have repeatedly rejected.
The attack in Kebbi occurred in the early hours of Monday, when armed bandits stormed the school, killing the vice principal, injuring staff members, and abducting 25 students.
The Federal Government has condemned the incident and vowed to secure the release of the abducted girls, assuring that it “shares in the pain of the victims” and is committed to bringing them home safely.
