Riley Moore, a US lawmaker, has said that effort to ”embolden separatists” in Nigeria ”hurts” Christians, particularly in the North and Middle Belt.
In a statement posted on his official X page on Saturday, Moore said he recently travelled to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission to assess reports of Christian persecution.
“I have traveled to Nigeria and engaged in multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups across the country, and IDPs, to get a better understanding of the rampant persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“In discussions, the idea of dividing the country has not come up in any serious way. Efforts to embolden separatists hurts Christians in Nigeria – especially in the North and Middle Belt.
“A destabilized Nigeria would embolden terrorists and make Christians less safe in Nigeria and across the continent,” Moore said.
The lawmaker also highlighted recent security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria an “important step in tackling the violence in Nigeria and deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between our great nations.”
Moore said he is committed to “supporting all Nigerians suffering from the instability wrought by terrorists throughout Nigeria. God bless you all.”
His remarks come days after the United States began conducting intelligence-gathering flights over parts of Nigerian territory.
Nigeria’s military is also strengthening its partnership with the United States amid increased security collaboration between both countries. The development follows President Donald Trump’s re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).