“Protect Christians Or Face Consequences,” US Congressman Warns Tinubu Amid ISWAP ‘Convert Or Die’ Threats
U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore has once again expressed concern over the killing of Christians in Nigeria, urging the government to strengthen efforts to protect Christian communities.
On Friday, Moore said Christians “continue to be explicitly targeted for their faith in Nigeria,” accusing the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants of carrying out attacks on Christian populations.
“ISIS-West Africa is slaughtering Christians and telling other Christians they must convert or die,” he said in a post on his X account.
The U.S. lawmaker added that the issue had already been brought to the attention of the U.S. government, stressing that further American assistance could depend on Nigeria’s response to the violence.
“In our report to the White House, we made it clear that increased American support is contingent on the Nigerian government doing more to defend Christians,” he said.
Moore also called on authorities in Abuja to take stronger action to address the situation.
“Now is the time for Abuja to step up,” he stated.
Moore was responding to a post by Brant Philip, a research and security advisor, concerning a recent attack in northeast Nigeria.
“ISWAP claimed the attacks in Kirshinga, northeast Nigeria, stating that they killed 27 Christians and burned 10 houses, they reiterate their call to Nigerian Christians to either pay the jizyah tax, convert to Islam, or be killed, which they describe as a ‘fair deal,’” Philip wrote.
Naija News House had earlier reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was reviewing a document recommending sanctions and other measures against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians and worsening insecurity, according to Moore.
Moore revealed this in a series of posts on his X handle last Thursday, noting that President Trump had designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and tasked him with leading an investigation into religious violence and security threats in the country.
“President Trump named Nigeria a CPC due to the horrific persecution of Christians & serious security threats the country faces. He asked me to lead the investigation,” Moore said. “On Monday, I delivered our report to the White House. @POTUS is reviewing our recommendations.”
The lawmaker said it was important to be clear about the nature of the crisis in Nigeria.
“Violence and insecurity in Nigeria affects people of all faiths, but Christians bear the overwhelming brunt of the attacks and have suffered in silence for two decades,” he stated, adding that “Christians are five times more likely to be killed than any other religious group.”
Moore alleged that Fulani militias and terrorist groups “constantly attack Christians: targeting pastors and priests, burning schools and churches, often on holy days,” and claimed that “they have killed tens of thousands.”
He said President Trump’s “decisive action and eagerness to defend Christians had created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deepen and strengthen the relationship between our two nations and confront this crisis head on.”
While acknowledging Nigeria’s security challenges, Moore urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to take stronger action.
“While the government of Nigeria requires assistance to address the pressing security challenges, the Tinubu government must demonstrate the political will to defend suffering Christians by allocating resources to immediately reduce and ultimately end this violence,” he said.
Moore proposed that any bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria should include commitments by Abuja to co-fund humanitarian assistance programmes prioritising Christians in the Middle Belt, implement early-warning mechanisms for attacks, deploy armed security forces to prevent violence, and “remove Fulani militias from the productive farmland that they have confiscated and enable the voluntary return of displaced communities to their homes.”
