A U.S. lawmaker, Rep. Riley Moore, has called on the administration of President Donald Trump to take what he described as “forceful action” to protect Christians in Nigeria following renewed attacks in Plateau State.
Moore made the call in a statement Thursday while reacting to reports and videos from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly attacked mourners during a mass burial on Wednesday.
Several people were feared killed and many others injured after assailants allegedly opened fire on residents gathered to bury seven people previously killed in the community. The attack had not been officially confirmed by police as of the time of filing this report.
In his statement, Moore contrasted Nigeria’s military intervention in neighboring Benin Republic during an attempted coup with what he described as the government’s failure to stop killings in Plateau State.
“When I visited Nigeria, the government responded swiftly to quell a coup in Benin,” Moore said, referring to Nigeria’s December 2025 deployment of fighter jets and troops to support the Beninese government during an attempted takeover.
“Nigeria’s willingness to step in to stop a violent attack in another country, while they stand by as their own Christian citizens are brutalised, makes these absolutely horrific scenes unfolding in Plateau State all the more unconscionable,” he added.
Moore alleged that Christians gathered for a mass burial “were viciously murdered by radical Islamic terrorists” and accused the Nigerian government of failing to act despite warnings of impending attacks.
“The Nigerian Government could root out the terrorism and stop the martyrdom of its own citizens. But, despite receiving early warnings of impending attacks, they are nowhere to be found as Christians are murdered for their faith,” he said.
Moore said he was encouraged that the Trump administration had identified the protection of Christians in Nigeria in its counterterrorism strategy and called for stronger U.S. intervention.
“Now, I am asking the Trump Administration to take forceful action to defend our innocent brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle Belt of Nigeria,” he said.
His comments were backed by Sean Nelson, senior counsel for global religious freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom International.
In a post on X, Nelson described Moore’s remarks as “very forceful,” adding that the United States should apply maximum pressure in line with its counterterrorism strategy.
The comments followed Wednesday’s attack in Fan District, Barkin Ladi, where mourners reportedly came under gunfire while preparing graves for victims of an earlier assault.
An eyewitness, journalist Masara Kim, said the attackers emerged from surrounding hills and opened fire as villagers conducted the burial.
“There is an ongoing massive attack on communities south of Jos. More than five communities are under simultaneous assault,” Kim said.
He added that mourners had “barely dug a shallow grave when the attackers struck,” forcing residents to flee.
The latest violence comes amid growing claims by some U.S. conservative politicians and advocacy groups, including allies of Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, that Christians in Nigeria are facing a genocide by Islamist militants.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the allegations, insisting that insecurity in the country affects both Muslims and Christians and is fueled by broader criminality, insurgency and communal conflict.
