- Says Faith-Based Violence, Not Climate Change, Land Issues Driving Attacks in Nigeria
- Tension As ISWAP Burns Down Christian Village In Adamawa
- Netanyahu: Israel Working On Plans To Support Christians In Nigeria
A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat posed by ISIS-affiliated militants in Nigeria, warning that Christian communities are increasingly under attack.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday night, Moore referenced reports that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had circulated images of a Christian village in Adamawa State engulfed in flames, accompanied by threats urging Christians to convert to Islam or face violence.
Moore described the development as “clear evidence of religious persecution”, rejecting arguments that the attacks stem from land disputes or climate change.
His statement reads, “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.
“This isn’t about land usage, ‘climate change,’ or any other argument the Left wants to make. This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple,” he wrote.
“ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to “spare their blood” if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior though.
Thankfully, President Donald Trump is continuing to work in cooperation with the Nigerian government to stop these Islamic radicals and defend our brothers and sisters in Christ”.
Earlier, a security expert, Brant Philip, had disclosed that the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, has burned down a Christian village in Adamawa State.
“ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizya tax to ISWAP,” Brant Philip wrote on X.
TheMatrix Newspaper reports that on Christmas Day, President Trump had ordered an airstrike on ISIS hideouts in Nigeria following his earlier threat to forcefully deal with those persecuting Christians in Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries! I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he wrote.
Although Trump did not name specific locations, the US Africa Command later confirmed that the strikes occurred in Sokoto State.
On Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the airstrikes, adding that Nigeria remained engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the US, in addressing terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry stated that the cooperation had led to precision airstrikes on terrorist targets in the North-West.
Also, in a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, FG clarified that the strikes targeted terrorist staging grounds.
It said the operation was conducted “in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America” and targeted “two major Islamic State terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.”
“Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region,” the statement said.
According to the government, the strikes were executed between 12:12 am and 1:30 am on December 26, following presidential approval and under Nigeria’s security command structure.
In a related development, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has disclosed that his country is working on an agenda aimed at supporting embattled Christian communities in Nigeria.
Netanyahu made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with evangelical community leaders in Florida, where he described Israel as the only country capable of protecting Christians worldwide.
He said, “I see the battle against us and the battle against our Judeo-Christian tradition, basically being waged around the globe. And it’s waged primarily by two forces — radical Shiite Islam and radical Sunni Islam.
“That means the axis that is led by Iran, much battered, admittedly, but still there, and the Sunni axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood, which permeates everything.
“They go to Europe, they go to the United States, they go to Africa, Nigeria. And we are conscious of the fact that Christians are being persecuted — across the Middle East, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Nigeria, in Turkey and beyond.
“We’re also aware of the fact, as you are, that one country protects the Christian community — enables it to grow, defends it, and makes sure that it thrives — and that country is Israel. There is no other. None.
“We are joining an effort to have basically a united nations or countries that support Christian communities around the world — beleaguered communities who deserve our help.
“Just as you are helping us, we want to help back, and we’re capable of doing this. In Africa, with intel, in the Middle East, with a lot of means, I won’t itemise each one.
“This is what our agenda is; it’s a main part of our agenda.”
