United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has cautioned that moves to promote separatist causes in Nigeria could aggravate the country’s security challenges and further expose Christians to violence, both within Nigeria and across Africa.
Moore made the remarks in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, disclosing that he recently undertook a fact-finding visit to Nigeria to assess claims of persecution against Christians.
According to the lawmaker, the visit involved engagements with Nigerian government officials, religious leaders, humanitarian organisations and internally displaced persons in different parts of the country, as part of efforts to understand the difficulties confronting Christians, especially in the North and the Middle Belt.
“I have travelled to Nigeria and engaged in multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups across the country, and IDPs, to get a better understanding of the rampant persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” he said.
Moore stated that during his interactions, the issue of Nigeria’s division did not feature prominently or seriously.
“In my discussions, the idea of dividing the country has not come up in any serious way. Efforts to embolden separatists hurt Christians in Nigeria — especially in the North and Middle Belt,” Moore said.
He warned that any attempt to destabilise the country could strengthen terrorist groups and worsen the security situation for Christians.
“A destabilised Nigeria would embolden terrorists and make Christians less safe in Nigeria and across the continent,” he said.
The congressman also pointed to recent security collaboration between the United States and Nigeria, describing it as a significant development in addressing violence.
“The US and Nigeria have just entered into a security cooperation agreement, and that is an important step in tackling the violence in Nigeria and deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between our great nations,” he said.
Moore concluded by reiterating his commitment to supporting victims of terrorism in Nigeria.
“I remain committed to working to save the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ — and for that matter, all Nigerians — suffering from the instability wrought by terrorists throughout Nigeria. God bless you all,” Moore added.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the US lawmaker paid a visit to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, during which they explored avenues for strengthening bilateral relations.
Moore again pledged to collaborate with Nigerian authorities in addressing insecurity and the persecution of Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt, describing his engagement with the governor as “both substantive and forward-looking,” with emphasis on boosting cooperation between both countries.
