A member of the United States Congress, Mr. Riley Moore, has said President Donald Trump is determined to put an end to the killings of Christians in Nigeria, stressing that recent U.S. air strikes against terrorist targets were aimed at curbing violent attacks on religious communities.
Moore made the remarks while commenting on the U.S. military action carried out on Christmas Day against terrorist enclaves in Nigeria’s northwest.
The strikes targeted hideouts in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the lawmaker emphasised that the operation was not carried out unilaterally by the United States.
According to him, the air strikes were conducted in close coordination with the Nigerian government as part of efforts to strengthen security and protect vulnerable populations.
Moore said the intervention reflected Trump’s focus on addressing persistent attacks on Christians in Nigeria, particularly during the Christmas season.
He noted that over the past two years, Christian communities in the country had come under deadly attacks during the festive period, describing the latest military action as a decisive shift in response.
Sharing excerpts from an interview he granted on Fox News, Moore said the air strikes were intended to disrupt terrorist groups responsible for violence and to deter further attacks.
He described the operation as an important first step toward tackling insecurity and religiously motivated violence in Nigeria.
According to the congressman, the balance had shifted this year, with armed groups becoming the target of military action rather than carrying out attacks with impunity.
He argued that the strikes sent a strong message that such violence would no longer be tolerated.
Moore also criticised those opposed to the military action, alleging that their objections were driven by political or ideological considerations rather than concern for victims of violence.
The Nigerian government has since confirmed that the operation was a joint effort, with Nigeria providing intelligence support and approval for the strikes, as part of broader security cooperation between both countries.
The development has reignited international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in regions affected by terrorism and communal violence, and on calls for stronger measures to protect civilians and restore stability.
