United States Congressman Riley Moore has identified Fulani militants as those he believes are primarily responsible for attacks on Christians in Nigeria, urging stronger efforts to end the violence, particularly in the country’s Middle Belt.
Moore made the remarks in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, where he expressed concern over the continued killings of Christians despite ongoing counterterrorism operations in Nigeria.
According to the US lawmaker, Fulani militants have become the leading perpetrators of violence against Christian communities.
“Fulani militants are by far the largest perpetrators of violence against Christians in Nigeria,” Moore stated.
He also commended the administration of US President Donald Trump for what he described as significant gains in the fight against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), but insisted that more attention must be given to the violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“The Trump administration has made historic progress against Boko Haram and ISWAP, but we must also stop the killing in the Middle Belt at the hands of the Fulani if we want to ensure our brothers and sisters in Christ are safe to live and worship without being murdered,” he added.
Moore’s comments come amid continued international concern over insecurity in Nigeria, where violence involving terrorist groups, armed criminal gangs, and communal conflicts has claimed thousands of lives in recent years.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly maintained that the country’s security challenges are multifaceted and that security agencies remain committed to tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
