Disarm radical militants terrorising Middle Belt, US Congressman tells Nigerian government

United States Congressman,  Riley Moore, has urged the Federal Government to take decisive action against armed groups operating in the Middle Belt, following the abduction of more than 300 pupils and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State on Friday.

In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, Moore condemned the attack, writing, “As a father, seeing these attacks makes my stomach turn.”

He called for stronger measures to bring those responsible to justice, insisting the government “must disarm the radical Muslim Fulani militants terrorising the Middle Belt.”

The lawmaker also claimed that attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria are worsening.

“The persecution of Christians in Nigeria is escalating out of control. I believe it is now a genocide,” he wrote.

Moore appealed for deeper collaboration between Nigeria and the United States on security matters, adding, “It is up to the Nigerian government to work with the United States to stop the killings and kidnappings of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

He cautioned that continuous attacks may trigger a response from Washington, warning, “This human tragedy has to end, or else, @POTUS has made it clear that he will take action to stop this tragedy.”

His intervention comes amid a rise in mass abductions and violent incidents across northern Nigeria.On Monday, gunmen invaded Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting at least 24 students.

Moore had earlier met a Nigerian delegation in Washington, DC, on Wednesday in a session led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. He described their discussion on counterterrorism and community protection as frank, honest and productive.

The Nigerian team included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu; Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede; and Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt Gen Emmanuel Undiendeye, among others.

The meeting followed recent comments by US President Donald Trump, who warned that Christianity in Nigeria faces “an existential threat”, cautioning that a failure by the Nigerian government to address the violence would prompt a US reaction he described as “fast, vicious, and sweet.”