United States Representative Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia's 2nd District, stated on Wednesday evening, July 8, 2026, that Fulani militants are the primary perpetrators of violence against Christians in Nigeria. Moore made the assertion via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, calling on authorities to stop the killings in Nigeria's Middle Belt region.
Moore's Statement on Christian Persecution
Moore wrote: "As I have been saying since I started investigating the genocide against Christians in Nigeria, Fulani militants are by far the largest perpetrators of violence against Christians in Nigeria." He added: "The Donald Trump administration has made historic progress against Boko Haram and ISWAP, but we must also stop the killing in the Middle Belt at the hands of the Fulani if we want to ensure our brothers and sisters in Christ are safe to live and worship without being murdered."
US-Nigeria Cooperation Against Terrorism
Between late 2025 and mid-2026, US President Donald Trump ordered numerous strikes on Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Nigeria, accusing the group of deliberately killing Christians. The strikes focused on militants in northwestern Nigeria. Both US and Nigerian officials confirmed cooperation on multiple operations.
Context and Reactions
Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a Nigerian clergyman and human rights advocate who chairs the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, has frequently spoken out against violence in north-central Nigeria. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with about 240 million people, is split between Christians, Muslims, and other faiths. In October 2025, Trump warned that Christianity faces an "existential threat" in Nigeria, according to Reuters.
However, the Nigerian government, along with experts and scholars, has argued that US officials' portrayal of the security situation is misleading, noting that members of all faiths have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists. Disputes over resources like water have also exacerbated tensions, leading to violent clashes between largely Christian farmers and largely Muslim shepherds. While Trump has repeatedly condemned anti-Christian violence, his administration has faced criticism over its refugee policy, particularly regarding people fleeing persecution, as reported by Al Jazeera.
