•Trump and Tinubu
United States (U.S.) Congressman Riley Moore has disclosed that the White House will soon come up with options to protect Christians in Nigeria against persecution by Islamist extremists.
However, the presidency, yesterday, dismissed claims that Nigeria’s insecurity was driven by religious sentiment, insisting that violence across the country affects people of all faiths and should not be framed as a religious war, reports The Guardian.
Moore, in a post on his X handle yesterday, said he would soon brief President Donald Trump on his observations from the fact-finding mission to Nigeria, which would enable the White House to proffer options for protecting Christians.
The congressman, who was reacting to a testimony by Bishop Robert Barron to U.S. lawmakers on the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, said the U.S. was not taking the allegations 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 after the briefing.
“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.”
Nigeria’s presidency’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 between government officials and religious leaders on peace, unity and national stability.
Hashim cautioned that narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as genocide or faith-based conflict risk deepening divisions and undermining national cohesion at a critical time for the country.
“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 added.
Responding to allegations of mass killings and abductions of Christian faithful, Hashim said realities on the ground show that insecurity cuts across religious lines, particularly in conflict-prone regions.
