A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has said recent American airstrikes carried out in Nigeria helped prevent deadly attacks during the 2025 Christmas period, marking a sharp contrast with previous years when Christian communities were targeted by violent extremists.
Moore made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, noting that the past two Christmas seasons in Nigeria were marred by killings of Christians by Islamist militant groups. He said the situation this year was different due to decisive military action taken by the United States.
According to the lawmaker, US forces conducted targeted airstrikes against Islamist militants operating in parts of Nigeria ahead of the Christmas celebrations, disrupting planned attacks and enhancing security during the festive period.
“Christians were murdered in Nigeria the past two Christmases,” Moore wrote. “This year was different. US forces targeted Islamist militants, and lives were saved.”
While Moore did not provide specific details of the operations, his comments come amid ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in regions affected by insurgent activity.
Nigeria has faced persistent attacks by militant groups over the years, with religious communities often bearing the brunt during major holidays. Security analysts say enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated military efforts have contributed to improved security outcomes in recent months.
The Nigerian government has yet to officially respond to Moore’s comments, but authorities have repeatedly emphasized the importance of international partnerships in addressing the country’s complex security challenges.
The 2025 Christmas celebrations across many parts of Nigeria were largely peaceful, offering relief to communities that had experienced fear and violence during previous festive seasons.
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