SUNTV Global Channel | December 29, 2025
A United States Congressman, Rep. Riley Moore, has disclosed that further U.S. military airstrikes are expected against terrorist camps operating in Nigeria, insisting that the recent strikes were not aimed at starting a war but at restoring peace and security.
Moore dismissed claims that President Donald Trump’s decision to authorise airstrikes would escalate tensions in Nigeria, saying the operation has already brought renewed hope to communities affected by terrorism, particularly Christian populations.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Moore said President Trump was committed to protecting vulnerable communities from extremist violence.
“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 wrote.
According to him, the Christmas Day strikes carried out against ISIS fighters, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have lifted morale among Nigerians living under constant fear of attacks.
“The strikes against ISIS on Christmas, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have given hope to the Christians in Nigeria,” he added.
Speaking further during an interview on Fox News’ Mornings with Maria, Moore painted a grim picture of the scale of violence against Christians in Nigeria. He claimed that attacks had been ongoing for more than a decade.
“Christians have been getting slaughtered in Nigeria since 2009,” Moore said, estimating that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians had been killed during that period. He also alleged that about 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria this year alone.
Describing what he said he witnessed firsthand during visits to affected areas, Moore said the situation on the ground was devastating.
“Underground, it is more dire than you could imagine. I’ve met mothers who lost all of their children, murdered right in front of them,” he stated.
He also highlighted the humanitarian crisis caused by the violence, particularly in Benue State, where he said hundreds of thousands had been displaced.
“About 600,000 people in Benue State alone are living in IDP camps. This is a state of about six million people, and nearly 90 percent of them are Christians,” Moore said.
The lawmaker stressed that the recent U.S. military action had boosted morale beyond Christian communities, extending to other Nigerians affected by terrorism and insurgency.
“This strike has given hope to the Christian population in Nigeria, but also to Nigerians who have suffered under ISIS-Boko Haram, especially in the Middle Belt, where Fulani Islamic militants have been driving Christians from their ancestral homes,” he said.
Moore emphasised that the operation was only the beginning.
“This is just the first step. There are many more to come, and it was done in coordination and cooperation with the Nigerian government,” he stated.
His comments followed President Trump’s confirmation that U.S. forces had carried out a military strike against ISIS fighters operating in northwest Nigeria. Announcing the operation on his Truth Social platform, Trump said American forces launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS targets.
“They targeted and viciously killed primarily innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, even centuries,” Trump claimed, adding that the terrorists had been warned to stop the killings.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed the operation, saying the airstrike was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the death of multiple ISIS fighters. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also acknowledged Nigeria’s cooperation and warned that more actions could follow.
AFRICOM said the strike took place in Sokoto State, a development that came weeks after Trump directed the Pentagon to plan potential military action in Nigeria over allegations of Christian persecution.
Meanwhile, residents of Jabo village in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State were thrown into panic on Christmas night after a loud explosion rocked the community. Eyewitnesses said an object believed to be an explosive fell into the village, triggering fear and confusion, with many residents initially thinking they were under attack.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments surrounding U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation and its impact on communities affected by terrorism — one story at a time.
