Riley Moore, who led a United States congressional delegation to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission, says the testimonies he received from communities affected by violence in the country left a profound emotional impact on him.
Moore and his team arrived in Nigeria on Sunday for an investigative visit focusing on reported attacks on Christian communities. As part of the mission, the delegation travelled to Benue State, where they held private discussions with victims and community leaders.
Sharing details from the visit on his X handle on Thursday, the US lawmaker said the delegation listened to harrowing personal accounts from displaced Christians, including a mother who described witnessing the killing of five of her children during an attack allegedly carried out by radicalized Fulani militants.
Moore noted that many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) they met live in camps that continue to face repeated security threats.
He wrote that the delegation met with Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Stephen Dugu, the Tor Tiv, and several Christian families who have lost homes and loved ones as a result of ongoing violence in the Middle Belt.
According to Moore, the experiences shared during the visit underscore the urgent need for coordinated efforts between the United States and Nigeria to address the recurring attacks in the region and the wider terrorist activities in the Northeast.
“I’m preparing a report for President Donald Trump that will propose ways the U.S. can work hand-in-hand with the Nigerian government to stop these killings and counter extremist threats,” he said.
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“I have never witnessed anything like what we saw. These stories will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Moore added that the delegation will brief the U.S. President soon and provide further updates after presenting its findings.
