Following U.S. military operations in north-west Nigeria targeting Islamic State-linked militants, Representative, Riley Moore has suggested that further strikes could take place to bolster security and safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly Christian communities.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview discussing U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in north-west Nigeria. The operations were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to both U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria; he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He added that the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in areas that have historically suffered repeated attacks during festive periods.
U.S. authorities reported that the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups in north-west Nigeria. Nigerian officials confirmed that the operations were carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the mission aimed to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces. Nigerian authorities described the targeted groups as a serious threat to national security, citing their involvement in killings, kidnappings, and raids on rural communities.
Moore noted that the strikes represented a shift from previous years, when attacks on civilians were more common during the Christmas period. He emphasized that the U.S. administration is focused on preventing further violence by targeting militants before they can carry out attacks.
U.S. officials stressed that the military action had the consent of the Nigerian government and forms part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners in its efforts to contain militant activity.
Moore has previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and urged continued U.S. engagement in combating extremist violence. He said that future actions would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
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