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A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has raised concerns over alleged threats by an Islamic State–affiliated group against Christian communities in Nigeria, describing the situation as clear religious persecution.
Moore, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night, said ongoing debates about the motives behind attacks on Christians in Nigeria should now be put to rest.
“If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate,” Moore wrote.
“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.”
The US lawmaker was reacting to viral posts circulating earlier in the day which claimed that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) released an image showing a Christian village in Adamawa State set ablaze.
According to the posts, the image was accompanied by a statement declaring that Christians across Nigeria are legitimate targets and could “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP.
One of the posts read:
“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.”
Referencing the claims, Moore stated:
“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.”
Moore also highlighted US cooperation with Nigerian authorities, saying President Donald Trump’s administration was working closely with the Nigerian government to counter extremist groups.
“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,” he added.
US Airstrikes in Nigeria
Last week, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched airstrikes against 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,” Trump wrote.
“I previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
Although Trump did not initially disclose specific locations, the United States Africa Command later confirmed that the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State.
On Friday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the airstrikes, noting that the country remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to combat terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry said the collaboration resulted in precision strikes on terrorist targets in the North-West.
Similarly, the Federal Government, in a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified that the operation targeted terrorist staging grounds.
According to the statement, the strikes were carried out “in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America” and hit two major Islamic State enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
“Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region,” the statement said.
The government disclosed that the operation took place between 12:12 am and 1:30 am on December 26, following presidential approval and under Nigeria’s security command structure.
It added that 16 GPS-guided munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms launched from maritime positions in the Gulf of Guinea.
Authorities confirmed that debris from the strikes fell in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states but stressed that no civilian casualties were recorded.
