By Palang Paul
A United States congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria over alleged religious violence visited Benue State on Monday, holding discussions with Catholic bishops and the Tiv traditional ruler.
US Congressman Riley Moore disclosed the visit in a post on X, saying the delegation met with Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu and the Tor Tiv, His Royal Highness James Ioruza. According to Moore, the talks focused on killings and insecurity affecting communities in Benue State.
Moore, who has repeatedly spoken about attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, said the United States would not ignore concerns raised by local religious and traditional leaders, stressing that their accounts had been heard.
The lawmaker also commended what he described as the Federal Government’s openness to engaging with the US on security challenges. He said discussions with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, centred on terrorism in the North-East and killings in the Middle Belt, issues he noted were of concern to both him and US President Donald Trump.
According to Moore, the delegation and Nigerian officials examined specific measures which, if fully implemented, could improve security nationwide, weaken terrorist groups in the North-East and halt killings in parts of the Middle Belt.
He further welcomed the recent rescue of 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, thanking the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu. He described the development as a positive signal of improved response to the country’s security situation.
Moore added that US concerns were “positively received” by Nigerian authorities and pointed to what he called an emerging Nigeria–US joint task force as evidence of growing cooperation. However, he stressed that the expressed goodwill must translate into concrete action.
Earlier, Ribadu confirmed that he hosted the US congressional delegation as part of ongoing security consultations between both countries. He said the meeting, which was also attended by US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills, focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability and strengthening bilateral security ties.
The visit comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions following Nigeria’s redesignation by the US as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations. While US lawmakers continue to raise alarms over religious violence, the Federal Government has maintained that insecurity in Nigeria affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
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