United States Congressman Riley M. Moore has pushed back against suggestions that Washington supports any effort to break up Nigeria, cautioning that separatist movements would deepen insecurity and further endanger Christian communities.
Moore made the remarks in a statement shared on his verified X account following a visit to Nigeria, where he met with government officials, church leaders, humanitarian organisations and internally displaced persons across several locations.
The lawmaker said his engagements were aimed at gaining firsthand insight into the persecution of Christians and broader security challenges in the country.
“I have travelled to Nigeria and held high-level discussions with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups and IDPs to better understand the widespread violence affecting Christian communities,” Moore said.
He stressed that calls for Nigeria’s division did not feature in any meaningful way during his meetings.
“At no point in my discussions did the issue of dividing Nigeria arise in any serious manner,” Moore said, warning that encouraging separatist agendas would have severe consequences, particularly for Christians in the North and Middle Belt regions.
According to him, a weakened or fragmented Nigeria would have implications beyond its borders.
“A destabilised Nigeria would empower terrorist groups and make Christians less safe, not only within Nigeria but across Africa,” he warned.
Moore also reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for victims of terrorism and insecurity in the country, regardless of religious affiliation.
“I remain committed to working to save the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ and all Nigerians suffering from the instability caused by terrorism,” he said.
The congressman linked his comments to ongoing cooperation between the United States and Nigeria on security matters, describing a recently signed bilateral security agreement as a significant step forward.
“The new security cooperation agreement between the US and Nigeria is an important move toward addressing violence and strengthening the partnership between our two nations,” Moore added.
