A US Congressman, Riley Moore, has confirmed meeting with a federal government delegation from Nigeria, led by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss tensions over reports of persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian delegation also includes Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye, among others. They are scheduled to meet with White House officials, security chiefs, and lawmakers.
Congressman Moore described the discussions as frank, productive, and focused on counterterrorism, protection of vulnerable communities, and addressing violence against Christians. He reaffirmed that the United States stands ready to cooperate with Nigeria to curb the threat from terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants, especially in the Northeast and Middle Belt.
Moore stressed that tangible measures are needed to ensure Christians are not subjected to persecution or violence, adding that cooperation between the US and Nigeria is critical to halting ongoing atrocities.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar downplayed claims of genocide, noting that 177 Christians were killed, 102 churches attacked, 98 people injured, and seven abducted over five years. He argued the violence was perpetrated by criminals, not targeted religious persecution, and cited Sudan as an example of faith-based agitation leading to country division. Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria is not experiencing genocide, asserting the reported figures were inaccurate.
Conversely, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) maintains that Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt face coordinated and targeted attacks. CAN President Daniel Okoh urged the federal government and the international community to act urgently to protect lives, prevent displacement, and end the ongoing violence. He described the suffering of affected communities as real and ongoing and reaffirmed CAN’s position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, warned that the US’s characterization of the situation as genocide could embolden extremist groups and increase sectarian tensions. He emphasized that both Christians and Muslims are targeted by insurgents and bandits, and Nigeria rejects the description of the conflict as genocide. Akume stressed that Nigeria requires intelligence cooperation, technology support, and military equipment from partners, not foreign troops.
He also traced Nigeria’s security challenges to the destabilization following the 2011 Libya and Egypt uprisings, which facilitated the flow of weapons and extremist ideologies into the Sahel region and Nigeria, strengthening groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Going forward, Akume said the Nigerian government will enhance nationwide security operations, deepen intelligence-sharing with allies, improve rural security, strengthen border surveillance, and pursue follow-the-money operations against illegal activities, all while upholding human rights. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a strategic partnership with the US aimed at promoting stability, democratic values, and countering extremism in Nigeria and the region.
