NSA Ribadu leads powerful delegation to Washington as Congressman Riley Moore demands visible steps to protect Christian communities; Nigerian government counters genocide claims, warns against dangerous characterisation, while CAN insists targeted attacks are real and ongoing
A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has confirmed meeting with a high-ranking Nigerian government delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Washington, D.C., amid rising diplomatic tension over allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria. The talks come as pressure mounts from segments of the international community, religious groups, and US political leaders demanding stronger action to curb violence in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt regions.
The Nigerian delegation, comprising senior security chiefs, top legal officials, and diplomats, arrived in Washington for a series of engagements with members of Congress, White House officials, and US security agencies. Among the officials present were Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye, and senior officials from the Office of the NSA and Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington.
In a statement released after the meeting, Congressman Moore described the dialogue as “frank, honest, and productive,” emphasising that the United States expects Nigeria to take measurable steps to protect Christian communities facing persistent violence. Moore reiterated that the US remains committed to collaborating with Nigeria but stressed that the administration, under former President Donald Trump, would not tolerate what he described as ongoing persecution and bloodshed.
“I made it crystal clear that the United States must see tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subjected to violence, persecution, displacement, or death simply because of their faith,” Moore said. He pledged to continue monitoring developments and pushing the Nigerian government to fully embrace a cooperative approach to combating extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and violent militias operating across vulnerable regions.
Nigerian officials at the meeting outlined their government’s security concerns, including the challenges of counterterrorism operations, protection of vulnerable populations, and the complexities of managing widespread violence affecting diverse communities across the country. They appealed for enhanced intelligence sharing, military technology, and strengthened bilateral coordination rather than external pressure that could complicate domestic efforts.
The diplomatic engagement follows recent comments by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who rejected claims of genocide during an interview on an international news programme. Tuggar argued that the violence in Nigeria is driven largely by criminality rather than religious persecution and criticised what he described as exaggerated or inaccurate casualty figures being circulated abroad. He insisted that government-verified data showed 177 Christians killed, 102 churches attacked, 98 injured, and seven abducted over the last five years, figures significantly lower than those cited by some advocacy groups.
Tuggar warned that inflamed narratives about religious genocide risk pushing Nigeria toward dangerous sectarian divisions similar to those that preceded the split of Sudan. “We know the playbook,” he said, cautioning against faith-based agitation that could destabilise the country.
Despite the federal government’s stance, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has maintained its long-held position that Christian communities in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt have suffered repeated, coordinated, and targeted attacks amounting to genocide. Speaking at its National Executive Council meeting in Jos, CAN President Daniel Okoh said it would be an “injustice to deny the painful reality” experienced by Christian populations, many of whom have endured years of displacement, loss, and insecurity.
Okoh recounted a recent visit to Bokkos in Plateau State, where displaced families shared accounts of attacks, loss of homes, and destroyed places of worship. “Lives have been brutally cut short, communities uprooted, families torn apart, and churches razed,” he said. “We stand united with our brethren. They are not forgotten.”
However, the federal government has pushed back strongly against the genocide narrative, warning of its dangerous consequences. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, cautioned that exaggerated claims, particularly from US officials and certain advocacy organisations, risk fuelling extremist groups who may weaponize these narratives to justify further violence. Akume insisted that no credible international body has categorised the situation in Nigeria as genocide against Christians or any other group.
He argued that insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have consistently attacked both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike, while bandits indiscriminately target all communities. He further highlighted how instability following the collapse of Libya and unrest in Egypt contributed to the proliferation of weapons and extremist ideologies across the Sahel, exacerbating Nigeria’s security crisis.
Akume stressed that Nigeria does not require foreign troops but rather targeted support from partners, especially in intelligence collaboration, advanced equipment, and technology. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith and to strengthening partnerships with the United States based on mutual respect.
As both countries navigate the sensitive and complex issues surrounding religion, security, and geopolitical cooperation, officials on both sides acknowledge the need for deeper collaboration to confront extremist threats. Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, and the United States, the world’s largest, share a strategic responsibility to promote stability and democratic values across the continent.
Government sources indicate that further meetings and technical discussions will continue in Washington over the coming days, as Nigeria seeks enhanced support while pushing back against narratives it considers harmful, inaccurate, and potentially destabilising.
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