US Congressman Moore Blasts New York Times Over ‘Anti-Christian’ Genocide Report On Nigeria
United States Congressman Riley M. Moore has launched a scathing attack on The New York Times, accusing the media giant of running an “anti-Christian hit” regarding the ongoing massacres in Nigeria.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Moore reacted to an article where the publication claimed he and other U.S. lawmakers were “falsely” labelling the violence in Nigeria as a Christian genocide.
The Times cited analysts who argued the situation is “complex” and driven by criminal elements rather than religious or ethnic tensions.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District, rejected this narrative, pointing to recent “horrific” attacks in Jos against peaceful Christians during Holy Week as a direct contradiction to the newspaper’s claims.
Responding in a post on X, Moore described the report as “disgusting” and said it represented “a new low” for the newspaper, particularly coming shortly after an attack in Jos.
“It’s been barely a day since Jos was rocked by this horrific attack by radical Islamic terrorists against peaceful Christians, and the Times couldn’t bother to ask for comment before running this anti-Christian hit,” Moore wrote.
The Congressman expressed outrage that the publication did not seek his comment before characterising his position as false.
“How many more Christians need to be slaughtered by Muslims, particularly on holy days, before the failing New York Times acknowledges that Christians in Nigeria are being massacred for their faith?” Moore questioned.
He further asserted that the media’s refusal to acknowledge the religious dimensions of the violence serves a “radical political agenda” rather than objective journalism.
Moore added that “the body of Christ is bleeding this Holy Week,” and expressed solidarity with Christians in Nigeria, as well as the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.
“I stand in solidarity with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria,” he said.
The New York Times report had argued that violence in Nigeria involves multiple actors and affects communities across religious lines, with analysts pointing to criminal gangs and resource-based conflicts as major drivers rather than solely religious motivations.
The debate intensified as frontline observers and security experts weighed in on the Congressman’s stance. Mike Arnold, a prominent advocate who has worked extensively in Nigerian conflict zones, cautioned Moore against collaborating with the current Nigerian administration.
Arnold described the situation not as a mere conflict, but as an “ongoing Islamic conquest,” alleging that the President Bola Tinubu administration is legally guilty of genocide through the systematic destruction and denial of aid to millions of displaced Nigerians.
He wrote: “What is happening in Nigeria is an ongoing Islamic conquest. The government is not fighting it. They are aligned with it. Top officials publicly call the terrorists “brothers” and “sons” — offer them rehabilitation and jobs.
“Meanwhile Tinubu and his administration are legally guilty of genocide TODAY for the deliberate denial and systematic destruction of millions of displaced Nigerians they keep “off the books” — calling them “criminals” and “beggars,” withholding aid, and routinely bulldozing their camps.
“Working with this government to end the genocide is like working with the Nazis to end the Holocaust. They are the architects of it.
“They have hired conservative Republican lobbyists — more than $10 million worth — to advance the fiction that they are actually doing something. The goal is simple: run out the clock on Trump’s term.
“With respect, Congressman — you have been bamboozled by smooth-talking, sociopathic criminals who are very good at this game.
“I have been to the front lines of this genocide. I have met with presidents, governors, kings, senators, and countless displaced persons and frontline workers across Nigeria.
“This is not a religious freedom issue. It is national security. The Old Dominion shooter two weeks ago was radicalized in Nigeria. Their stated intention is to use Nigeria as a launchpad for global jihad.
“It is important you get this right,” he concluded.
The clash highlights a growing divide between international media narratives and the lived experience reported by those on the ground. While The New York Times and various analysts maintain that the violence—which has claimed thousands of lives across the Middle Belt and North-East—is a result of banditry and land disputes, Moore and his supporters argue the data points to a systematic religious purge.
According to data from groups monitoring the conflict, Nigeria remains one of the deadliest places in the world for Christians. Reports indicate that over 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2023 alone, accounting for approximately 80% of global Christian martyrs.
