A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has called on the administration of President Donald Trump to take stronger action following renewed attacks in Plateau State, Nigeria.
The appeal came after gunmen reportedly attacked mourners during a mass burial in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Moore made the call in a statement released on Thursday while reacting to reports and viral videos from the affected community in Plateau State.
According to reports, armed attackers opened fire on residents gathered for the burial of seven people who had earlier been killed in the area.
Several persons were reportedly feared dead, while many others sustained injuries during the incident.
As of the time of reporting, Nigerian police authorities had not officially confirmed details of the attack.
WHAT THE US LAWMAKER SAID
In his reaction, Moore criticised the Nigerian government’s handling of insecurity in Plateau State.
He compared Nigeria’s military intervention in neighbouring Benin Republic during an attempted coup to what he described as a failure to adequately protect vulnerable communities at home.
According to him, the situation in Plateau raises serious concerns about the safety of Christian communities in parts of Nigeria.
Moore alleged that Christians gathered for the burial were attacked despite warnings of possible violence, arguing that stronger action should have been taken to prevent the incident.
He also called on the Trump administration to intensify efforts aimed at protecting Christians in Nigeria as part of broader counterterrorism strategies.
INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS
Moore’s statement received support from Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom International.
In a post on X, Nelson described the comments as “forceful” and backed calls for increased pressure from the United States regarding insecurity in Nigeria.
The latest reactions add to ongoing concerns raised by some American conservative politicians and advocacy groups who claim Christians in parts of Nigeria are facing targeted violence.
The attack reportedly occurred in Fan District of Barkin Ladi while residents were preparing graves for victims of an earlier assault.
Eyewitnesses claimed the gunmen emerged from nearby hills and opened fire on mourners, causing panic and forcing residents to flee the area.
Reports also indicated that multiple communities in the region were attacked around the same time.
FG’S POSITION
The Federal Government has repeatedly rejected allegations that attacks in Nigeria amount to religious genocide.
Authorities maintain that insecurity in the country affects both Christians and Muslims and is largely driven by terrorism, banditry, communal clashes, and other criminal activities
The government has also insisted that security agencies are working to address violence across affected regions.
The latest attack in Plateau State has once again drawn international attention to Nigeria’s security challenges. With growing calls for stronger action from foreign lawmakers and advocacy groups, discussions around security, religious freedom, and government response are expected to remain in focus.
