The delegation present at the meeting included Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, NSA and Leader of the Delegation; Her Excellency Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police; Chief Lateef Olasunkami Fagbemi, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation; General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. EAP Undiendeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence.
United States Congressman, Riley M. Moore, on Wednesday met with a delegation of senior Nigerian government officials led by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria, during the delegation’s visit to Washington, D.C.
The delegation present at the meeting included Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, NSA and Leader of the Delegation; Her Excellency Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police; Chief Lateef Olasunkami Fagbemi, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation; General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. EAP Undiendeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Others were; Ms. Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to ONSA; Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of Foreign Relations, ONSA; Ambassador Nuru Biu, Acting CDA, Embassy of Nigeria; and Paul Alabi, Political and Economic Section, Embassy of Nigeria.
According to a statement, the meeting “allowed for a frank, honest, and productive discussion about the ongoing persecution of Christians and ongoing terrorist threats in Nigeria and opportunities for strengthened cooperation and coordination between the United States and Nigeria to end the bloodshed.”
During the engagement, the Nigerian officials “shared their government’s challenges and concerns regarding counterterrorism, security assistance, protection of vulnerable communities, and ongoing issues involving violence across Nigeria.”
The release noted that Congressman Moore “clearly stated that the United States stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with Nigeria,” adding that “as President Trump made abundantly clear, the United States will not tolerate continued violence against Christians or other forms of religious persecution.”
It further stressed that “President Trump does not make idle threats.”
It added that Congressman Moore “will continue monitoring new developments and pushing the Nigerian government to accept the open hand of cooperation to stop the ongoing persecution and violence against Christians and combat the threat terrorist groups pose to the Nigerian population.”
Congressman Moore also issued a detailed statement following the meeting. “Today, I had a frank, honest, and productive discussion with senior members of the Nigerian government regarding the horrific violence and persecution Christians face and the ongoing threat terrorism poses across Nigeria,” he said.
“I made it crystal clear that the United States must see tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subject to violence, persecution, displacement, and death simply for believing in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“We stand ready to work cooperatively with the Nigerians to help their nation combat the terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants against their population, specifically Christians in the Northeast and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government has the chance to strengthen and deepen its relationship with the United States. President Trump and Congress are united and serious in our resolve to end the violence against Christians and disrupt and destroy terrorist groups within Nigeria. I urge the Nigerians to work with us in cooperation and coordination on this critical issue.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the United States House Appropriations Committee was set to submit a report to the White House over what it describes as “genocide against Christians in Nigeria.”
The committee disclosed this in a post on X, Wednesday.
"Appropriator Rep Riley Moore has been at the forefront of bringing attention to the brutal persecution of Christians in Nigeria."
"Subcommittee Chairman MarioDB's FY26 NSRP bill reaffirms @POTUS' CPC designation, and our committee is preparing a report for the WhiteHouse," the committee stated.
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced that, in response to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, he had redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.” He made the announcement via his Truth Social platform, writing:
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he wrote.
He further hinted that the United States may consider a military operation in Nigeria if the “killings of Christians” continue.
Moore, who leads the investigative committee set up by Trump to look into the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, also accused the Nigerian government of failing to justify the extensive military assistance it has received from Washington. He lamented that the ongoing genocide against Christians has been met with global indifference.
He stated this during an interview on the Dinesh D'Souza programme, seen by SaharaReporters.