United States Congressman Riley Moore has cautioned against any efforts to support separatist calls for the breakup of Nigeria, warning that such moves would destabilise the country, empower terrorists, and make Christians less safe—particularly in the North and Middle Belt regions.
In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, Congressman Moore rejected suggestions that dividing Nigeria could resolve its security and religious freedom challenges.
“A destabilized Nigeria would embolden terrorists and make Christians less safe in Nigeria and across the continent,” Moore wrote.
He revealed that he has personally travelled to Nigeria and held multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, church leaders, aid organisations, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to better understand the widespread persecution of Christians in the country.
However, Moore clarified that during these engagements, the idea of dividing Nigeria “has not come up in any serious way.”
Instead of encouraging separatist movements, the lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to working within the framework of the recent US-Nigeria security cooperation agreement to end attacks on Christians and all Nigerians suffering from terrorist violence.
“The US and Nigeria have just entered into a security cooperation agreement, and that is an important step in tackling the violence in Nigeria and deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between our great nations,” Moore stated.
He concluded by calling for continued focus on protecting lives across Nigeria without resorting to fragmentation that could exacerbate insecurity.
The statement comes amid ongoing debates in Nigeria and internationally about religious freedom, insecurity, and separatist agitations in various regions of the country. Moore’s position underscores a US preference for supporting a unified Nigeria while addressing human rights and security concerns through bilateral cooperation rather than territorial division.
