A high-level delegation of United States lawmakers and diplomats arrived in Nigeria on Sunday for a security-focused fact-finding mission, amid growing concerns in Washington over widespread persecution and killings of Christians in the country.
U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore, part of the delegation, shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I came to Nigeria in the name of the Lord and on behalf of the American people. Just ending a very productive visit to Nigeria and rounds of meetings. More details to come. Happy Sunday. God is Great!”
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also announced the delegation’s visit in a series of posts on X, stating that he hosted the U.S. Congressional group in Abuja following prior discussions in Washington, D.C., centered on joint security priorities. “This morning, I received a U.S. Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., on shared security priorities,” Ribadu wrote.
The delegation included Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Norma Torres, Scott Franklin, Juan Ciscomani, and Riley M. Moore. U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, also attended, highlighting the significance both nations attach to this engagement.
Ribadu indicated that discussions focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the U.S. “I’m optimistic this engagement will deepen trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to peace and security,” he added.
The visit comes as the U.S. Congress intensifies scrutiny regarding the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, particularly concerning attacks on Christian communities in the North and other regions. In recent months, several American lawmakers, including members of the House Appropriations Committee and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have publicly accused the Nigerian government of failing to halt what they characterize as a “genocidal campaign” by extremist groups and armed militias.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the U.S. House Appropriations Committee warned that Nigeria was “rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous places on Earth to follow Christ,” pledging to advocate for stronger diplomatic measures and conditioning security assistance.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Intersociety, and Open Doors have documented mass killings, abductions, and village burnings carried out by armed groups, leading to thousands of civilian deaths annually.
While the Nigerian government disputes the characterization of genocide, asserting that the violence stems from banditry, terrorism, and resource conflicts rather than religious motives, the Trump administration recently designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) amid escalating international pressure.
The presence of multiple U.S. Representatives, spanning both Republican and Democratic parties, underscores a bipartisan concern in Washington regarding the situation in Nigeria. Rep. Riley Moore, a vocal advocate for addressing religious persecution, has urged U.S. officials to reassess military aid and enhance oversight on how American security assistance is utilized.
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