US Congressman Recounts ‘Horrific Violence’ in Benue IDP Camps!

​Abuja/Makurdi, Nigeria—United States Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) has ratcheted up pressure on the international community to address the escalating humanitarian and security crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, following a deeply personal and fact-finding visit to Benue State.

​Moore, a key figure appointed by President Donald Trump to investigate religious violence in the country, shared harrowing accounts of persecution and violence against Christian communities after visiting camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue this week.

​Witnesses Detail Atrocities

​Writing on social media platform X, Congressman Moore recounted meeting “dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence.” The congressman stated that the testimonies he received described systematic attacks that left entire families annihilated and forced survivors to flee their ancestral villages.

​”They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life,” Moore wrote.

​Among the testimonies, Moore detailed the account of a woman who said her family “was murdered in front of her and her baby was ripped from her womb.” Another man reportedly described how “his family was hacked to death in front of his eyes,” leaving him with a permanently mangled arm.

​The Congressman asserted that “more than 600,000 Christians” are currently living in IDP camps across Benue State—a region that has endured years of conflict, often attributed to clashes between predominantly Christian farming communities and armed groups identified by Moore and local leaders as “genocidal Fulani.”

​Moore used the term directly, writing: “These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” and called for decisive international attention to the crisis. During his visit, he met with His Excellency Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ioruza, the traditional ruler of the Tiv people, to discuss the ongoing attacks.

​Diplomatic Tensions and US Mandate

​The visit comes amidst heightened diplomatic tension between Washington and Abuja, particularly after the Trump administration redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” over alleged religious freedom violations. President Trump had specifically directed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the systematic killing of Christians and report back to the White House.

​According to data cited by Moore and others in Congress, Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, with one estimate suggesting more than 7,000 Christians were killed in 2025 alone. Reports highlight that between May 2023 and May 2025, over 9,500 people, primarily Christians, were killed across Benue and Plateau states.

​Before traveling to Benue, Moore held discussions with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other senior officials in Abuja. The talks, described by Moore as “very productive,” focused on addressing terrorism in the North-East and the Middle Belt killings, which he described as priorities for President Trump and himself.

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​Moore commended the Nigerian government for the recent rescue of over 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren and pointed to a “now established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as a sign of progress in security cooperation. However, the Congressman cautioned that while US concerns were “positively received,” that openness “has to translate to concrete action,” stressing that “there is much work still to be done.”

​NSA Ribadu confirmed hosting the US delegation as part of ongoing security consultations centered on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and efforts to “strengthen the strategic security partnership.”

​The visit is a critical part of the US congressional push that has seen discussions and roundtables in Washington on policy recommendations, including increasing security in the Middle Belt, ending impunity for perpetrators, and facilitating the safe return of displaced persons. The gravity of the crisis was underscored by Moore’s previous statements supporting the possibility of US sanctions and “even kinetic military action” should the Nigerian government fail to protect its Christian population.

​The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims of systemic persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths across the country.