In a grim dispatch from Riley M. Moore, a U.S. lawmaker, the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Benue State has reached staggering proportions: over 600,000 displaced Christians are now sheltering in overcrowded IDP camps.
During a recent visit to the region, Moore recounted harrowing testimonies from survivors — stories of entire families slaughtered, wives forced to watch the execution of their husbands and children, one woman narrowly escaping with her unborn child, and another cruelly described being forced to see her baby ripped from her womb.
He also met local religious leaders and traditional rulers, including leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and the Tiv people, to underscore what he described as a “genocidal campaign” — calling on the international community to pay urgent attention and intervene.
Moore said the stories he heard “will remain with me for the rest of my life,” and urged nations worldwide to help protect vulnerable Christian communities and pressure authorities to stop the slaughter.
The accounts echo concerns voiced earlier this year by Amnesty International, which documented widespread attacks in Benue: more than 500,000 people had already been displaced, many living in dire conditions without adequate food, water or medical access.
