A United States lawmaker, Congressman Riley Moore, has praised the Nigerian government for securing the freedom of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a post shared Monday on X, Moore described the children’s release as a “positive sign” of President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges.
He thanked the Federal Government and President Tinubu specifically for what he called a decisive response to the mass abduction.
According to him, the operation reflects a strengthening commitment to the emergency security measures recently announced by the Nigerian leader.
Moore disclosed that a joint task force has now been established between the U.S. State Department and Nigerian authorities to tackle concerns surrounding alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
He said the rescue of the children demonstrates that “a cooperative security partnership is achievable,” adding that Washington’s expressions of urgency over human-rights concerns have been acknowledged by Abuja.
The lawmaker also noted that discussions between both countries explored several actionable steps aimed at disrupting terrorist networks in the northeast, strengthening nationwide security, and protecting Christian communities—particularly in the Middle Belt, which he identified as a key area of concern for both himself and the U.S. President.
While commending Nigeria’s openness to collaboration, he stressed that the momentum must translate into concrete action on the ground.
Moore’s visit comes after months of tense exchanges between Nigerian and US officials over claims of religious persecution.
It also followed high-level talks in Washington last month involving Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and U.S. Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Those meetings coincided with a congressional hearing in which American lawmakers reviewed allegations of systematic attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
Moore said the recent rescue operation in Niger State indicates that engagement between both nations is beginning to yield encouraging results, though work remains to be done.
