United States Congressman Riley Moore has stated that there is “much work still to be done” as he expressed concerns over the increasing levels of terrorism and ongoing killings during a meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, Moore indicated that the discussions centered on terrorism in the North-East and the violence in the Middle Belt, highlighting these issues as specific concerns for both President Donald Trump and himself.
Moore mentioned that the delegation and Nigerian officials explored concrete steps and actions that could enhance security if fully implemented. He emphasized, “There were concrete steps and actions discussed at length, that if fully executed, I believe will enhance security across the country for all Nigerians, disrupt and destroy terrorist organisations in the northeast and stop the killing of Christians (a specific concern for @POTUS and me) – particularly in the Middle Belt of the country.”
He also referenced the rescue of 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, expressing gratitude to the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu. “I want to thank the Nigerian government and @officialABAT for rescuing the 100 innocent and precious Catholic school children. This is a positive demonstration of the government’s increasing response to the security situation and shows commitment to the emergency declaration laid out by President Tinubu,” he wrote.
The congressman noted that US concerns were “positively received” and highlighted what he described as a “now established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as an example of cooperation. However, he added, “It is clear that there is an openness and willingness on the part of the Nigerian government to work with the United States to tackle these critical issues. Now, that openness has to translate to concrete action.”
Moore further stated, “There is much work still to be done, but things are moving in the right direction. I look forward to the next steps with the Nigerian government and the continued open dialogue.” He concluded his message with, “Peace be with you all. God bless the great people of Nigeria.”
On Sunday, the NSA announced that he hosted a US congressional delegation as part of ongoing security consultations between the two nations. Ribadu shared on his X handle that the visit followed earlier discussions held in Washington, DC, focused on mutual security interests. “This morning, I received a US Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, DC, on shared security priorities,” he said.
He noted that US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, was also present at the meeting, which he described as reflecting the importance both nations place on this engagement. According to Ribadu, the discussions revolved around “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and methods to “strengthen the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.” He expressed optimism that this engagement would deepen trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to peace and security.
The visit occurs amid heightened diplomatic tensions after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to alleged religious freedom violations, a move accompanied by threats of possible US military intervention. The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of systemic Christian persecution, asserting that insecurity affects citizens of all religious backgrounds.
On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted the NSA at the Pentagon to discuss coordinated strategies for addressing the crisis. That same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa convened a public hearing to examine President Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, where lawmakers assessed the potential implications of this designation.
Last Tuesday, House Republicans issued warnings regarding the rising religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing called at the direction of President Trump, who on October 31 instructed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the slaughter of Christians in the country and report its findings to the White House.
Leave a Reply