A member of the United States Congress, Riley M. Moore, has condemned the Nigerian government over the continued killings in Plateau State, accusing authorities of failing to protect Christian communities despite repeated intelligence warnings and escalating violence across the Middle Belt.
Moore, who spoke through his X handle, compared Nigeria’s swift intervention in neighbouring Benin Republic during an attempted coup to what he described as the government’s silence and inaction amid deadly attacks on Christians in Plateau communities.
According to the American lawmaker, the Nigerian government demonstrated its ability to act decisively when it moved quickly to suppress the attempted coup in Benin Republic, but has allegedly failed to deploy the same urgency in stopping recurring bloodshed in Plateau State.
“When I visited Nigeria, the government responded swiftly to quell a coup in Benin,” Moore wrote.
“Nigeria’s willingness to step in to stop a violent attack in another country, while they stand by as their own Christian citizens are brutalized makes these absolutely horrific scenes unfolding in Plateau State all the more unconscionable.”
The congressman further alleged that Christians who gathered for the mass burial of victims killed in an earlier attack were themselves attacked and murdered by what he described as “radical Islamic terrorists.”
Moore also accused Nigerian authorities of ignoring intelligence reports and early warnings ahead of the attacks.
“The Nigerian Government could root out the terrorism and stop the martyrdom of its own citizens. But, despite receiving early warnings of impending attacks, they are nowhere to be found as Christians are murdered for their faith, like lambs led to slaughter,” he stated.
The lawmaker called on the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to take stronger and more forceful action over the killings taking place in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
“I am grateful the Trump Administration specifically identified protecting Christians in Nigeria in the administration’s new Counterterrorism Strategy,” Moore added.
“Now, I am asking the Trump Administration to take forceful action to defend our innocent brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, the epicenter of an ongoing Christian genocide.”
The latest outrage follows reports that terrorists on Wednesday invaded a community in Plateau State and disrupted the mass burial of seven members of a family murdered in a brutal night attack in the Barkin Ladi area near Jos.
The attack reportedly sent residents and mourners into panic as gunmen opened fire around the burial ground, forcing families and sympathisers to flee for safety amid heavy gunfire and advancing armed attackers.
Eyewitness and social media personality, Masara Kim Usman, who claimed to be present at the scene, provided live updates through his Facebook page, describing the situation as chaotic and terrifying.
“This will be the permanent home of seven members of a family martyred last night by terrorists near Jos, Nigeria,” he wrote before the situation reportedly escalated.
Moments later, videos shared online allegedly showed suspected terrorists advancing toward the burial site while terrified residents ran for safety as gunshots echoed across the community.
Voices in the footage could reportedly be heard warning people to take cover as mourners abandoned the graveside and fled into nearby bushes.
In another video update, Usman described the attack as overwhelming and life-threatening.
“We just escaped from massive gunfire. It’s massive. It’s really, really massive,” he said.
“It’s coming from behind us. They’re shooting coming from the southern part of this community located in the farm district of Barkin Ladi.
“Seven people were killed here last night. And now there’s incoming fire. A mass of terrorists advancing.
“And we can see so many of them camping ahead of us.
“Looks like there’s not going to be any escape. We’re just going to have to try and get out of here.”
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to officially confirm the number of casualties recorded during the attack on the funeral gathering in Plateau State.