United States Representative Riley Moore has warned that promoting separatist movements in Nigeria could worsen insecurity and place Christians, especially in the north and Middle Belt, at greater risk.
In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, Moore said he recently undertook a fact-finding visit to Nigeria to assess reports of Christian persecution. He met with government officials, church leaders, aid organisations and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to understand the situation firsthand.
“I have travelled to Nigeria and engaged in multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups across the country, and IDPs to get a better understanding of the rampant persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore said.
He noted that discussions about dividing Nigeria did not feature prominently in any of his engagements.
“In my discussions, the idea of dividing the country has not come up in any serious way. Efforts to embolden separatists hurt Christians in Nigeria - especially in the north and Middle Belt,” he added.
Moore cautioned that destabilising Nigeria would embolden terrorist groups and worsen the vulnerability of Christians across the country and the wider region.
“A destabilised Nigeria would embolden terrorists and make Christians less safe in Nigeria and across the continent,” he said.
He also highlighted recent security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria as an important step in addressing violence and strengthening bilateral relations.
“The US and Nigeria have just entered into a security cooperation agreement, and that is an important step in tackling the violence in Nigeria and deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between our great nations,” Moore stated.
During the visit, Moore met with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, describing their discussion as “substantive and forward-looking,” with a focus on improving cooperation to address insecurity in the Middle Belt.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers revisited concerns over religious freedom in Nigeria during a congressional hearing in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. The hearing examined countries where religious freedom is perceived to be under threat - a characterisation Nigerian authorities have repeatedly rejected.
Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, cited Genocide Watch in describing Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians.”
While acknowledging what he described as small steps by Nigeria to improve religious freedom, Smith criticised recent lobbying contracts aimed at influencing US perceptions.
He referenced Nigeria’s reported $9 million contract with DCI Group and a separate engagement by Matthew Tonlagha of Tantita Security Services with Valcour Global Public Strategy to strengthen US–Nigeria relations, arguing that such efforts reflected “a culture of denial.”
Another lawmaker, Joaquin Castro, questioned the effectiveness of US actions in Nigeria last year, accusing the Donald Trump administration of invoking the protection of Christians while cutting programmes aimed at addressing discrimination against religious communities.
Lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), with some describing it as largely symbolic, while others said it helped refocus international attention on Nigeria.
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