A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has warned that persistent attacks on Christians in Nigeria could jeopardize the country’s diplomatic relations with the United States, following reports of a deadly Palm Sunday assault in Jos, Plateau State.
Moore, reacting in a post on X on Monday, condemned the reported killing of Christians in Anguwan Rukuba on Sunday, describing the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting worshippers during major religious observances.
Business Hallmark had earlier reported that the police confirmed 14 deaths from the attack, though some accounts suggest the toll may have risen to as many as 20 victims.
The US lawmaker, who was part of a congressional fact-finding delegation that investigated allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, said the killings highlight what he described as recurring attacks on Christians during holy days.
“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos. Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on the Christians before hacking them to pieces with machetes. This is sickening and unacceptable, but it’s not surprising,” Moore said.
He further alleged that such attacks have become a recurring pattern during Christian holy periods in Nigeria.
“This tragedy follows a pattern of radical Islamic terrorists massacring Christians on holy days. In fact, terrorists have attacked Christians in Nigeria on every single holy day in recent memory, except for last Christmas when President Trump sent 12 tomahawk cruise missiles to stop them,” he added.
Moore called on the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently step up security ahead of upcoming Christian observances, including the Easter Triduum.
“Abuja knows this pattern and they must massively ramp up security for the Triduum and Easter. If they don’t take this threat seriously and mobilize to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, the blood of these martyrs will be on their hands, and there will be significant consequences for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States,” he stated.
Reiterating his concerns, Moore said the attackers reportedly opened fire on Christians on Sunday, March 29, before hacking several victims to death with machetes.
Local reports indicate that the attackers, suspected to be bandits riding motorcycles, allegedly carried out the deadly assault in parts of Jos on Sunday night.