Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) today hailed the United States' Christmas Day airstrikes in northwest Nigeria as a critical intervention that prevented planned terrorist attacks on Christian communities during the holiday season.
The strikes, directed by President Donald Trump and conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, targeted ISIS-linked militants accused of orchestrating violence against innocent civilians.
"These airstrikes are just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians," said Congressman Moore in a statement posted on X. "President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end. As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump’s resolve in this matter."
The operation, which involved U.S. military strikes on Islamic State positions, was carried out with the approval and intelligence support of Nigerian authorities, underscoring a collaborative effort to combat terrorism in the region. President Trump announced the strikes, emphasizing his administration's commitment to protecting persecuted Christians worldwide.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the cooperative nature of the mission, stating that the Department of War acted decisively following Trump's directive to end the violence.
Moore's comments come on the heels of his recent leadership of a congressional delegation to Nigeria, where the group investigated reports of targeted attacks on Christian populations.
During the visit, the delegation met with internally displaced persons (IDPs), survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian leaders, and Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi.
Moore described the violence as a deliberate attempt to erase Christians from their ancestral homelands, citing harrowing stories from survivors in Benue State, one of Nigeria's most affected areas.
"This action by the United States sends a strong message that we will not stand idly by while our brothers and sisters in faith are persecuted," Moore added. The congressman noted that a report with recommendations, commissioned by President Trump following Nigeria's designation as a "Country of Particular Concern," is due by the end of the month.
The airstrikes have been credited with disrupting terrorist camps and reducing the immediate threat to Nigerian civilians during the Christmas period, according to sources on the ground. Casualty figures among the militants remain unconfirmed, but the operation is seen as a significant blow to ISIS operations in West Africa.