A United States congressional delegation has questioned the rationale behind attacks on internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Nigeria, alleging that such incidents undermine claims that the country’s insecurity is solely driven by climate change or economic disputes.
Speaking after the conclusion of the delegation’s fact-finding mission to Nigeria, US Congressman Riley Moore disclosed that the team would submit a comprehensive report to US President Donald Trump on alleged targeted violence against Christian communities.
The five-member congressional delegation arrived in Nigeria earlier in the week and conducted visits to internally displaced persons camps, communities affected by violent attacks, Christian leaders, and traditional rulers, particularly in Benue State.
Moore made the remarks during an appearance on a Fox News programme anchored by Harris Faulkner on Thursday, where he described Benue State as one of the most dangerous areas in the country.
According to the Congressman, the delegation travelled across parts of Benue State in armoured vehicles due to security risks, meeting with Catholic and Protestant leaders, bishops, and community heads to obtain what he described as “ground truth” on the situation.
“This is a fact-finding mission. Benue is one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria. This is where the majority of Christians are being murdered for their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But I felt we had to go,” Moore said.
He noted that attacks were not limited to villages or places of worship but had also targeted IDP camps, raising questions about narratives that frame the violence as a result of land disputes, climate change, or economic pressure.
“For those who say this is about climate change or economics, why would you burn down a church? Why would you attack an IDP camp screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’?” Moore asked. “It is very clear what the answer is. They are trying to erase Christians in Benue State and across Nigeria from their ancestral homeland.”
Moore further revealed that, President Donald Trump had directed him and the Chairman of the US House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole, to compile a detailed report and make policy recommendations based on the delegation’s findings.
“We will report back to the President and make recommendations. He has asked myself and Chairman Tom Cole to give him a report, and we are going to do that by the end of this month,” he stated.
In late October, Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over allegations of religious persecution, a move that drew strong reactions from the Nigerian government.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims of religiously motivated violence, maintaining that insecurity in the country is driven by criminality, terrorism, and resource-related conflicts rather than religious bias.
Despite the government’s position, the US delegation said its mission was aimed at independently assessing the situation on the ground and advising, on possible next steps in bilateral engagement and security cooperation.
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