Capitol Hill Reacts: US Congressman Warns Of Growing Danger For Christians In Nigeria

A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has raised concerns over what he described as growing threats against Christians in Nigeria, citing recent developments as evidence of religious persecution.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Moore made the remarks in a post on (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night, reacting to a viral report attributed to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which allegedly declared Christians in Nigeria as legitimate targets.

“If there were any lingering doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should put that debate to rest,” Moore wrote.

He dismissed alternative explanations often offered for violence in the country, insisting the attacks are rooted in religious persecution.

“This isn’t about land disputes, ‘climate change,’ or any other argument the Left wants to advance. This is the persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ—plain and simple,” he said.

Moore was responding to widely circulated claims that ISWAP released an image showing a burning Christian community in Adamawa State, accompanied by a message allegedly urging Christians to convert to Islam or pay the jizyah tax to avoid violence.

“ISIS is telling Christians they can ‘spare their blood’ if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bow to anyone but our Lord and Savior,” Moore added.

The comments come days after the United States carried out airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State. The operation, ordered by former US President Donald Trump, was reportedly in response to escalating attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria,” Trump wrote last week.

“I had warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughter of Christians, there would be severe consequences—and tonight, there were,” he added.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the airstrikes on Friday, describing them as part of structured security cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners.

In a separate statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the operation targeted two major Islamic State terrorist enclaves within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.

“Intelligence reports confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging points by foreign ISIS fighters infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region,” the statement said.

The strikes were carried out between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on December 26, using MQ-9 Reaper drones launched from maritime positions in the Gulf of Guinea, with 16 GPS-guided munitions reportedly deployed.

Authorities said debris from the strikes fell in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states, but no civilian casualties were recorded.