More U.S. Airstrikes Expected in Nigeria — Congressman Riley Moore
A United States Congressman, Rep. Riley Moore, has dismissed claims that President Donald Trump’s recent military action against terrorist groups in Nigeria could lead to war, stating instead that further U.S. airstrikes are expected.
Moore said the military intervention has brought renewed hope and improved security to vulnerable communities in Nigeria, particularly Christians who have faced years of violence.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, December 29, 2025, Moore said President Trump was not escalating conflict but working to restore peace.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria. He’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” he wrote.
He added that U.S. airstrikes carried out against ISIS targets on Christmas Day, in coordination with the Nigerian government, had boosted morale among affected communities.
“The strikes against ISIS on Christmas, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have given hope to the Christians in Nigeria,” Moore said.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News’ Mornings with Maria, Moore described what he called a long-standing and severe crisis facing Christians in Nigeria.
According to him, Christians have been victims of sustained violence since 2009, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 people have been killed over the years. He further claimed that about 7,000 Christians were killed in 2025 alone.
Moore also shared accounts of what he described as firsthand experiences, saying the situation was far worse than widely reported.
“Underground, it is more dire than you could imagine. I have met mothers who lost all of their children, murdered in front of them,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of displacement, Moore noted that about 600,000 people in Benue State are currently living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. He described Benue as a state of roughly six million people, nearly 90 percent of whom are Christians.
“This strike has given hope not only to the Christian population in Nigeria, but also to the broader Nigerian population suffering under ISIS-Boko Haram and Fulani militant violence, especially in the Middle Belt,” he said.
Moore emphasized that the recent airstrike marked only the beginning of U.S. military involvement.
“This is just the first step. There are many more to come, and it was done in coordination and cooperation with the Nigerian government,” he added.
His comments followed confirmation by President Trump that U.S. forces had launched a military strike against ISIS fighters operating in northwest Nigeria.
Announcing the operation on his Truth Social platform, Trump said American forces carried out a “powerful and deadly strike” against what he described as ISIS terrorists responsible for targeting innocent civilians, particularly Christians.
“I warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump said.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation, stating that the airstrike was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the killing of multiple ISIS fighters. The strike reportedly took place in Sokoto State.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also acknowledged the operation, expressing gratitude for Nigeria’s cooperation and warning that further actions could follow.
The military action comes weeks after Trump said he had directed the Pentagon to begin planning potential operations in Nigeria following reports of persecution against Christians.
Meanwhile, residents of Jabo village in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State were thrown into panic on Christmas night after a loud explosion rocked the community. Eyewitnesses said an object suspected to be an explosive fell into the village, causing fear and confusion, with many residents initially believing they were under attack.
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