United States congressman Riley Moore has disclosed that Washington and Abuja are close to finalising a strategic framework on insecurity following a series of meetings in Nigeria. Moore led a US delegation on a fact finding mission to review claims of Christian genocide and broader concerns about religious persecution and terrorism in the country.
Speaking after talks with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other senior officials, Moore said both sides had agreed on practical steps that could strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry and communal violence. He described the engagement as constructive and said the proposed framework is now in its final stages.
According to him, the emerging plan focuses on improving intelligence sharing, building early warning systems, boosting protection for at risk communities and tightening accountability for human rights abuses linked to security operations. He stressed that the goal is to protect all Nigerians, while paying particular attention to areas where Christians and other groups have faced repeated attacks.
Moore has been one of the loudest voices in the US Congress pushing for a tougher response to violence in Nigeria and has previously spoken of “Christian genocide” in parts of the country. After his latest visit, he said progress has been made and indicated that successful implementation of the agreed measures could reduce the need for more punitive US actions.
The Nigerian government, however, continues to reject the genocide label, insisting that the country’s security crisis is driven by terrorism, criminality, farmer–herder clashes and socio economic pressures, not a state backed campaign against Christians. Officials argue that both Muslims and Christians have suffered and accuse some foreign lobbyists and media of oversimplifying a complex conflict.
Ribadu and other Nigerian officials have nonetheless welcomed closer cooperation with the US, saying external support and technical assistance can help improve operations against groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP and violent bandit gangs. Moore said the “real test” will be whether the resolutions and plans agreed in Abuja are carried out fully in the coming months.
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