United States Congressman Riley Moore has announced that the U.S. and Nigerian governments are nearing a “significant milestone” in the fight against terrorism, with a strategic security framework expected to be finalized soon.
In a post on X on Sunday, Moore stated that the proposed framework would focus on combating extremist groups in the North-East and Middle Belt regions and specifically ending the “genocide against Christians.”
Naijaonpoint recalls that Congressman Moore led a delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, where he witnessed the impact of violent extremism firsthand, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.
The delegation held meetings with senior Nigerian officials, including Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation; Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and various religious and traditional leaders.
Moore said: “We did have positive conversations with the Nigerian government, and I believe we are close to a strategic security framework to address both the ISIS and Boko Haram threat in the Northeast, as well as the genocide against Christians by the radical Fulani Muslims in the Middle Belt.”
He stressed that the detailed report from the fact-finding mission would be presented to President Donald Trump and would “outline paths to work with the Nigerian government to end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
He reinforced the horrific account of some of the victims he met during the visit, saying, “What I witnessed during my trip to Nigeria was heartbreaking.
“I met a woman who witnessed all five of her children murdered in front of her.
“Another woman lost her husband and two daughters and had her unborn child killed.”
The push for the security framework follows the previous redesignation of Nigeria by President Trump as a “Country of Particular Concern” over Christian killings, along with a threat to take military action against Fulani extremists should the Nigerian government fail to address their activities.
In response, the Federal Government initiated dialogue, with a delegation led by NSA Ribadu visiting the U.S. to present Nigeria’s position. The Nigerian government has since taken several actions to address insecurity, including declaring a state of emergency on insecurity, establishing a US-Nigeria Joint Working Group on Security, and appointing Gen. Christopher Musa as the Minister of Defence.