The US House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs on Monday officially submitted to the White House a report detailing their findings and recommendations on addressing the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Remember that President Donald Trump ordered Congressman Riley Moore and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to spearhead a thorough investigation into the security issues facing Nigeria and the purported persecution of Christian communities by terrorists after redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
On Monday night, Moore confirmed that the report had been sent on his X handle, @RepRileyMoore.
Moore had previously led a delegation on a fact-finding trip to Nigeria, where they met with government representatives led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, visited internally displaced people’s camps in Benue, and spoke with terrorism victims.
The report’s conclusions are based on expert witness interviews, a roundtable and hearing, two on-the-ground evaluations conducted by bipartisan congressional delegations in Nigeria, and close collaboration with the Trump administration.
According to Moore, the US team now has a comprehensive image of the dangers and purported persecution Christians experience in Nigeria.
He claimed that the Nigerian government should take advantage of the chance to improve and fortify ties with the United States.
“Doing so is in the interest of both our great nations. Together, we must address these pressing security challenges and bring an end to violence against Christians,” Moore said.
The paper lays out a strategy to coordinate with the Nigerian government to provide security for all Nigerians, as well as efforts to resist radical Islamic terrorism and enforce accountability procedures.
He said, “Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore joined members of the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs at the White House to formally present the comprehensive report outlining concrete actions to end the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and counter growing extremist violence in the region.
“This report is the result of months of investigation, including a bipartisan congressional fact-finding trip to Nigeria, hearings with expert witnesses, consultations with religious leaders, meetings with Internally Displaced Persons, and engagement with senior Nigerian government officials.”
The study outlines several proposals, such as delaying certain US funding until the Nigerian government can show that it is taking concrete steps to prevent violence against Christians and establishing a bilateral security pact between the US and Nigeria to safeguard vulnerable Christian communities and disrupt terrorist networks.
Additionally, it calls for the repeal of blasphemy and Sharia laws, the implementation of sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals and organizations involved in or complicit in religious persecution, the provision of technical assistance to the Nigerian government in order to curb violence by armed Fulani militias, and collaboration with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
Moore added, “Following today’s productive meeting at the White House, I want to thank President Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and for his administration’s commitment to protecting our brothers and sisters in Christ from persecution and addressing the broader security challenges plaguing Nigeria.
“Since President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a CPC and tasked me to lead a congressional investigation, I have worked diligently with my colleagues to produce the report we presented today. I also want to thank House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, Vice Chair Mario Diaz-Balart, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, and Congressman Chris Smith for their leadership on this comprehensive investigation and for delivering this report to the White House.
“I traveled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face and the instability the Nigerian government must combat.”
