US congressman says airstrikes mark turning point in fight against killings in Nigeria

A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has described recent American airstrikes in North West Nigeria as a critical first move toward ending the killing of Christians and restoring security across the country.

Moore said the strikes, carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government, signalled a tougher stance by Washington under President Donald Trump against terrorism and religiously motivated violence.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, the lawmaker said the military action was “just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the broader security crisis affecting all Nigerians.”

“President Trump has made it clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” Moore said. “As I stated at the outset: do not test President Trump’s resolve on this issue.”

His remarks followed reports that US forces, acting on Trump’s directive, carried out airstrikes against ISIS-linked terrorist elements operating in parts of northwestern Nigeria.

In a separate post, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strikes were conducted with Nigeria’s cooperation.

“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must end,” Hegseth wrote. “The Department of War is always ready. Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation.”

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that the airstrikes were part of structured security cooperation with international partners aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism.

Moore recently led a five-member congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria to assess reports of attacks on Christian communities. He described the visit as deeply troubling.

The delegation met with internally displaced persons, survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian leaders and traditional rulers in Benue State. They also held discussions with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

Speaking during an interview on Fox News, Moore recounted testimonies from victims, including a woman who lost five children while pregnant and another who lost her husband, two daughters and her unborn child.

“This is one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria,” he said. “There is a deliberate attempt to erase Christians in Benue and across Nigeria from their ancestral homeland.”

Moore said President Trump had tasked him, alongside the Chairman of the US House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole, to submit a report with recommendations by the end of the month.

He added that the report would inform further US actions following Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians and worsening insecurity.

According to Moore, the airstrikes signalled that Washington was prepared to move beyond statements and take concrete action in response to the crisis in Nigeria.