A United States lawmaker, Mary Miller, has blamed radical Islam for the killing of thousands of Christians in Nigeria, adding her voice to growing pressure from Washington on the Nigerian government to address persistent violence and insecurity.
In a post on X, Miller said radical Islam is responsible for the mass slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria and across the world, stressing that the ideology has no place in the United States. Her comments come amid renewed scrutiny by US lawmakers over what some officials have described as a genocide against Christians in parts of Nigeria.
Earlier, the United States government signalled its intention to take action over the situation. The House Committee on Appropriations made this position known through its official X handle while responding to a post by Congressman Riley Moore, who revealed that he was in Benue State to meet displaced Christians affected by violent attacks.
Moore said he visited Internally Displaced Persons camps in Benue, where he met dozens of Christians who had been driven from their homes and subjected to severe violence. According to him, survivors recounted harrowing experiences that left a lasting impression. He described cases in which women were forced to watch their husbands and children killed, families murdered in front of their loved ones, and victims left permanently injured. Moore stated that more than 600,000 Christians are currently living in IDP camps in Benue State alone.
He added that these communities should be able to live in their ancestral homelands without fear, expressing concern over continued attacks that he described as genocidal in nature.
In response, the United States House Committee on Appropriations said America would not look away while innocent lives are lost. The committee explained that, at the direction of the US President, appropriators led an on the ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and to guide future policy recommendations. It noted that religious freedom and atrocity response are central components of its national security and rights policy framework.
The concerns echo earlier statements by Congressman Moore, who has repeatedly warned about Nigeria’s worsening security situation, particularly in the North East and Middle Belt regions. He disclosed that he met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss terrorism, ongoing killings, and broader instability.
According to Moore, the issue of violence against Christians is of specific concern to both himself and the US President. He said discussions with Nigerian officials focused on concrete steps that, if fully implemented, could enhance security nationwide, weaken terrorist organisations in the North East, and halt attacks on Christian communities, especially in the Middle Belt.
While acknowledging what he described as initial progress, Moore maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges remain far from resolved. He said much work still needs to be done, although he expressed cautious optimism that efforts are moving in the right direction. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continued dialogue with the Nigerian government and offering words of peace and goodwill to Nigerians.
The statements by US lawmakers underscore growing international attention on Nigeria’s security crisis and add to mounting calls for stronger action to protect vulnerable communities and restore stability across the country.
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