US Congressman Moore Visits Benue, Seeks Global Attention To IDPs Crisis

United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has called for increased international attention to what he described as a “genocidal campaign” against Christian communities in Nigeria’s Benue State, following his visit to several camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region.

In a series of posts shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Moore said he met “dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence and now live in IDP camps,” recounting stories of widespread killings and displacement.

“They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life,” Moore wrote.

According to the congressman, one woman recounted how she was forced to watch as her husband and five children were killed, narrowly escaping with her unborn baby. Another survivor said her family was murdered in front of her, and her baby “was ripped from her womb.”

Moore also described a man whose family was “hacked to death”, leaving his arm permanently mangled.

The congressman claimed that “more than 600,000 Christians” are currently living in IDP camps across Benue, a state that has suffered years of conflict between farming communities and armed groups.

“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” Moore stated, urging the global community to act decisively.

During his visit, Moore met with key local figures, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ayatse, the traditional ruler of the Tiv people.

“It was an honour and deeply moving to meet with His Excellency Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ioruza to discuss the ongoing genocidal campaign by the Fulani in Benue State,” he said, adding that the United States “would not ignore” the accounts shared by local leaders.

Moore described his trip as a “very productive visit to Nigeria,” noting that he also met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other senior officials in Abuja. Discussions, he said, focused on terrorism in the North-East, killings in the Middle Belt, and potential measures to strengthen bilateral security cooperation.

“Both sides examined steps that could strengthen security if implemented fully,” Moore noted, commending Nigeria’s recent rescue of over 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren and describing it as a sign of progress.
“Now, that openness has to translate to concrete action — there is much work still to be done,” he added.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed hosting the US delegation, describing the meeting as part of ongoing security consultations between both countries.

Ribadu said the talks followed earlier engagements in Washington, DC, and focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening Nigeria–US strategic security ties.

Moore’s visit came amid renewed diplomatic strain between Abuja and Washington following the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious freedom violations, a move that has drawn strong objections from the Nigerian government.

The Federal Government has repeatedly denied allegations of systemic persecution of Christians, insisting that the country’s security crisis affects citizens of all faiths.

On November 20, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon for further talks on coordinated responses to Nigeria’s insecurity. That same day, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa convened a public hearing on the implications of the CPC redesignation.

Just last week, House Republicans renewed concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a briefing ordered by President Donald Trump, who in October directed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the “slaughter of Christians” and report directly to the White House.