United States Congressman Riley Moore has described his recent visit to Nigeria as deeply distressing, following what he said were heartbreaking encounters with victims of violent attacks in the country’s Middle Belt. Moore led a congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Benue State, where they met internally displaced persons, survivors of attacks, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and affected communities.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, the West Virginia lawmaker recounted emotional stories shared by victims, including women who lost their children, husbands, and unborn babies during attacks. He said many of the survivors are now living in internally displaced persons camps under difficult conditions.
Moore claimed that the violence in parts of the Middle Belt amounts to a systematic campaign against Christian communities. He alleged that Fulani Islamist extremists are targeting Christians in an effort to drive them off their ancestral lands, describing the situation as persecution and genocide.
Despite the grim accounts, Moore said the delegation held positive meetings with Nigerian authorities in Abuja, including discussions with top security and justice officials. He expressed hope that these engagements would lead to improved security cooperation and a strategic framework to address the country’s challenges.
