A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has raised alarm over reports of threats against Christians in Nigeria, citing statements attributed to an Islamic State–affiliated group and describing the situation as religious persecution.
Moore said on X on Thursday night that the debate over the motives behind attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria should be settled. “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.
“This isn’t about land usage, ‘climate change,’ or any other argument the Left wants to make. This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple,” he wrote.
The Congressman was responding to posts circulating on X earlier in the day that claimed the Islamic State West Africa Province, known as ISWAP, had released an image showing a Christian village in Adamawa State on fire.
According to those posts, the image was accompanied by a statement declaring that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, giving them an opportunity to “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP.
“ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood’ by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP,” the viral post read.
Referring to these claims, Moore added:
“ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood’ if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior though.”
US and Nigeria Coordinate Against Terrorist Threats
Moore also highlighted US involvement with Nigerian authorities, noting: “Thankfully, @POTUS is continuing to work in cooperation with the Nigerian government to stop these Islamic radicals and defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Last week, former President Donald Trump ordered the launch of US airstrikes targeting terrorist groups operating in parts of Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries! I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote.
Although Trump did not name specific locations, the US Africa Command later confirmed that the strikes occurred in Sokoto State.
On Friday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the airstrikes and emphasized that the country remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the US, to address terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry stated that the partnership had facilitated precision airstrikes on terrorist targets in the North-West.
A statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified that the strikes targeted terrorist staging grounds. “The operation was conducted in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America and targeted two major Islamic State terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State,” the statement said.
“Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region.”
According to the government, the airstrikes were executed between 12:12 am and 1:30 am on December 26, following presidential approval and under Nigeria’s security command structure. Sixteen GPS-guided munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned platforms launched from maritime locations in the Gulf of Guinea.
While debris from the operation fell in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states, authorities confirmed that no civilian casualties occurred.
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