U.S. congressman to submit security report to Trump after Nigeria fact-finding visit
United States Congressman Riley Moore has disclosed plans to brief President Donald Trump on the outcome of a recent congressional visit to Nigeria, where he led a delegation to assess the country’s worsening security situation and allegations of religious persecution.
Moore, a Republican lawmaker, headed a five-member team of U.S. legislators on a fact-finding mission that included visits to communities affected by violent attacks, particularly in Benue State, which he described as one of the most volatile regions in the country.
Due to security risks, the delegation reportedly travelled through parts of the state in armoured vehicles.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News, excerpts of which he shared on social media, Moore said the mission was designed to gather first-hand accounts from victims, religious leaders, and community representatives in order to provide an evidence-based report to the US president.
According to him, the delegation held discussions with Christian groups, Catholic and Protestant clergy, and other stakeholders to better understand the scale and nature of violence affecting vulnerable communities.
He said the findings would form part of a detailed report to be submitted before the end of the month, as directed by President Trump and the Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole.
Moore described the testimonies encountered during visits to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps as deeply disturbing.
He said many survivors shared graphic stories of attacks that left families wiped out and communities destroyed.
One account, he said, involved a woman who lost five children during an assault but managed to escape while pregnant, later giving birth in an IDP camp.
Another case involved a woman who lost her husband, children, and unborn baby during a separate attack.
The congressman said the emotional trauma among survivors was evident and insisted that such violence could not be explained solely by economic hardship or environmental pressures.
He criticised continued assaults on displacement camps and religious sites, arguing that the targeting of churches and IDPs suggested a deeper ideological motive behind the violence.
During the visit, Moore and members of the delegation met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja, where discussions focused on counter-terrorism efforts, regional stability, and ongoing security challenges.
Ribadu reportedly described the meeting as a continuation of previous engagements between Nigerian officials and U.S. lawmakers in Washington.
The delegation also paid courtesy visits to traditional rulers and senior clerics, including the Tor Tiv, as well as Catholic and Protestant bishops in Benue State.
Moore acknowledged recent efforts by the Nigerian government, including the rescue of abducted children in Niger State, which he described as a positive development under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The visit comes amid renewed diplomatic friction following the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious freedom violations, a classification the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected.
Moore confirmed that a joint task force involving the U.S. State Department and Nigerian authorities had been set up to address concerns related to insecurity and claims of religious persecution.
He said the final report to President Trump would include recommendations aimed at shaping future U.S. engagement with Nigeria on security and human rights issues.
