United States Congressman Riley Moore has disclosed that the White House will soon consider options to protect Christians in Nigeria against persecution by Islamist extremists.
However, the Presidency on Wednesday dismissed claims that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by religious sentiment, insisting that violence across the country affects people of all faiths and should not be framed as a religious war.
Moore made the disclosure in a post on his X handle, stating that he would soon brief President Donald Trump on his observations from a recent fact-finding mission to Nigeria. According to him, the briefing would enable the White House to propose measures aimed at protecting Christians in the country.
The congressman was reacting to a testimony by Bishop Robert Barron before U.S. lawmakers on allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. Moore said the United States was not taking the claims lightly.
“Thank you, Bishop Barron, for shedding light on how our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted for their faith in Nigeria,” Moore wrote. “Thanks for the shout-out. You are right; I will be briefing the White House on this topic very soon to give them options on how to protect Christians in Nigeria.
“In addition to our recently passed FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) bill, which protects U.S. security, upholds humanity and safeguards religious freedom, the House Appropriations Committee will soon deliver a report to President Trump on the situation in Nigeria – facts, oversight and leadership.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency reiterated that Nigeria’s insecurity should not be reduced to a faith-based conflict. The government’s position was articulated by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Chieftaincy Matters, Abba Hashim, during an interaction with the Methodist Archbishop of Anambra, Dr Vincent Onoh, as part of ongoing engagements with religious leaders on peace, unity and national stability.
Hashim cautioned that narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as genocide or religious persecution risk deepening divisions and undermining national cohesion.
“What’s important now in this country is togetherness. We should put everything aside between Muslims, Christians and even people who don’t have a religion. We should not go with the stories going around, which all of us know are false,” he said.
Responding to allegations of mass killings and abductions of Christian faithful, Hashim maintained that realities on the ground show that insecurity cuts across religious lines, particularly in conflict-prone regions of the country.
He stressed that the government remains committed to engaging all stakeholders to address insecurity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, regardless of religious affiliation.
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