Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, NIGERIA — A sitting U.S. Congressman has intensified international focus on Nigeria’s spiralling security crisis, raising alarm over reported threats by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against Christian communities and urging stronger military cooperation to protect vulnerable populations.
Representative Riley M. Moore, a Republican lawmaker from West Virginia, reacted strongly after **a video circulated online that allegedly showed a Christian village in Adamawa State engulfed in flames alongside a statement attributed to the ISWAP insurgent group declaring “all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets.” The accompanying message reportedly offered residents an ultimatum that they could “spare their blood” only by converting to Islam or paying a historical Islamic levy known as jizyah — conditions that Moore characterised as clear religious persecution.
Moore took to social media to condemn the threat and frame it as evidence that attacks on Christians are motivated by faith and not merely part of broader insecurity, insisting that such actions demand decisive international response. “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate,” he wrote, arguing that the message aligns with extremist tactics seen elsewhere and calls for urgent action.
In his statements, the U.S. lawmaker also welcomed ongoing cooperation between the United States and Nigerian authorities against extremist groups. He praised the continuation of intelligence‑led military efforts by both governments, noting that joint airstrikes and coordinated operations aim to curb the capabilities of militant networks, including ISWAP and other Islamist factions. Recent U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State, carried out with Nigerian approval, targeted Islamic State‑linked camps as part of this collaboration, though Nigerian officials maintain the focus is on counter‑terrorism rather than religious reprisal.
Moore’s comments reflect a broader push among some U.S. lawmakers who have linked rising violence in Nigeria to potential policy responses from Washington. Alongside his critique of the attacks, the congressman suggested that more airstrikes and military pressure could help stem threats against communities, especially after recent strikes were described by him and others as a step toward “peace and security” for populations regularly victimised by violent extremist groups.
At the same time, debates within the U.S. political sphere illustrate divisions over the appropriate nature and scope of engagement in Nigeria’s security challenges. Some lawmakers and human rights advocates have called for targeted military support and deployment of resources to assist Nigerian forces in protecting civilians, while others have urged caution against framing the conflict solely in religious terms or advocating unilateral action without clear congressional mandate. A recent U.S. congressional hearing highlighted divergent views, with certain members warning that broad military intervention could worsen existing tensions or violate legal norms.
Nigerian officials, including the Foreign Minister, have emphasised that although extremist violence undeniably affects communities of various faiths, it remains a complex security crisis involving terrorism, banditry, and criminality. They maintain that cooperative counter‑terrorism strategies, grounded in mutual consent and intelligence sharing, are central to mitigating threats without jeopardising national sovereignty.
The escalation of rhetoric in the U.S. Congress and international advocacy underscores growing global concern over Nigeria’s protracted insecurity, particularly as religious persecution allegations gain traction alongside documented insurgent attacks on both Christian and Muslim communities. As calls for military support and enhanced intervention continue, observers say that shared security efforts, robust intelligence cooperation, and political will in both nations will be crucial to addressing the multifaceted threat posed by ISWAP and allied extremist actors.
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