By DDM NEWS Investigative Desk
Fresh controversy, renewed hope, and deep geopolitical implications have followed recent United States airstrikes targeting terrorist elements in North-West Nigeria, as senior figures within the US Congress openly declare that the military action represents only the opening phase of a broader campaign to halt what they describe as the systematic killing of Christians and the worsening security crisis engulfing Africa’s most populous nation.
In a series of forceful public statements, US Congressman Riley Moore framed the strikes not as an isolated military maneuver, but as a deliberate signal of Washington’s intent to confront armed groups accused of targeting Christian communities and destabilizing Nigeria. According to Moore, the operation—carried out under the direct authorization of President Donald Trump—marks “just the first step” in a wider effort to end violence that he and other American officials have increasingly characterized as genocidal in nature.
The remarks, which have since drawn intense attention in diplomatic, security, and religious circles, underscore a significant shift in US posture toward Nigeria’s internal conflicts, particularly those affecting rural and Christian-majority areas in the North-Central and North-West regions. For DDM NEWS, the statements raise critical questions about sovereignty, international intervention, religious freedom, and the future trajectory of Nigeria–US security cooperation.
A Strong Congressional Endorsement
Congressman Moore, who represents West Virginia and has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates within the US legislature on Nigeria’s religious violence, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday to praise the airstrikes and frame them as a moral and strategic necessity.
“The strikes conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government are just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians,” Moore wrote, signaling that Washington views the violence not merely as a Nigerian domestic problem but as an international human rights concern.
He further emphasized that the action was in direct alignment with President Trump’s publicly stated position on religious persecution. “President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” Moore declared, adding a pointed warning: “As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump’s resolve in this matter.”
The language, unusually blunt for congressional commentary on a foreign nation, suggests that the airstrikes are part of a calculated escalation, designed both to neutralize armed groups and to send a message to actors—state and non-state alike—accused of enabling or tolerating religiously motivated violence.
Confirmation from the Pentagon
Moore’s comments were reinforced by statements from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who confirmed that the strikes were conducted with the cooperation and support of the Nigerian government. In a separate post, Hegseth emphasized that the operation was consistent with the administration’s broader commitment to protecting religious minorities and confronting terrorism.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth stated. “The Department of War is always ready. Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation.”
The reference to the “Department of War,” a term revived under the Trump administration, further underscored the administration’s hardline posture. It also highlighted a growing willingness by Washington to frame counterterrorism efforts in explicitly moral and religious terms, a shift that has both supporters and critics.
Nigeria’s Official Response
Amid swirling speculation and concern over sovereignty, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved to confirm that the airstrikes were part of an established framework of international security cooperation. In a carefully worded statement, the ministry said the operation fell within Nigeria’s ongoing collaboration with international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
While Abuja did not disclose operational details, officials stressed that Nigeria retains ultimate authority over its territory and that any foreign assistance is governed by bilateral and multilateral agreements. Nevertheless, the public nature of the American declarations—particularly the framing of the strikes as the beginning of a broader campaign—has reignited debate within Nigeria over the role of foreign powers in addressing internal security challenges.
A Fact-Finding Mission That Shaped Policy
Central to the current moment is Congressman Moore’s recent fact-finding mission to Nigeria, an այց that appears to have significantly influenced Washington’s approach. Leading a five-member congressional delegation, Moore traveled to several locations affected by violence, with a particular focus on Benue State, one of the regions hardest hit by attacks attributed to armed groups.
According to Moore, the visit was “deeply disturbing” and profoundly shaped his understanding of the crisis. The delegation met internally displaced persons living in camps, survivors of terrorist attacks, Christian clergy, and traditional rulers who described years of violence, displacement, and loss.
They also held high-level meetings with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, discussions that Moore described as frank and sobering.
What Moore encountered on the ground, he later said, went beyond abstract statistics and security briefings. In media appearances following the trip, including a detailed interview on Fox News, he recounted harrowing personal stories that he said illustrated a pattern of deliberate targeting.
Stories That Shocked Washington
Among the cases Moore highlighted was that of a woman who reportedly lost five children in a single attack while she herself was pregnant. Another woman, he said, lost her husband, two daughters, and her unborn child during a separate incident.
“These are not random acts of violence,” Moore told Fox News. “This is deliberate. This is targeted. This is about erasing Christian communities from their ancestral lands.”
He went further, describing Benue State as “one of the most dangerous states in Nigeria” and alleging that armed groups are systematically attempting to push Christians out of areas they have inhabited for generations.
“They are trying to erase Christians in Benue and across Nigeria from their ancestral homeland,” Moore asserted, a claim that has been echoed by several international advocacy organizations but disputed by some Nigerian analysts who caution against oversimplifying a complex conflict involving land use, banditry, insurgency, and governance failures.
From Concern to Action
The US airstrikes come on the heels of Washington’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a classification reserved for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom. The designation, which carries potential sanctions and policy consequences, marked a significant escalation in US pressure on Abuja.
Moore confirmed that President Trump personally tasked him, alongside House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, with submitting a comprehensive report on Nigeria by the end of the month. The report, he said, will include findings from the fact-finding mission and recommendations for further US action.
“This is not the end of the conversation,” Moore said in one interview. “It’s the beginning. The President wants clear recommendations, and we are going to deliver them.”
For observers, the sequence is telling: designation as a CPC, intelligence gathering and surveillance, targeted military strikes, and now explicit congressional warnings that more action may follow.
A Shift in US Foreign Policy Tone
What distinguishes the current US posture is not merely the use of force but the framing of the issue. American officials are increasingly presenting Nigeria’s security crisis through the lens of religious freedom and human rights, rather than solely counterterrorism or regional stability.
Supporters of this approach argue that previous international responses failed because they downplayed the religious dimension of the violence. Critics, however, warn that emphasizing religion risks inflaming tensions and oversimplifying conflicts that also involve competition over land, resources, and political power.
Within Nigeria, reactions are mixed. Some Christian leaders have welcomed the US intervention, describing it as overdue recognition of their suffering. Others, including Muslim leaders and civil society groups, caution that external military action must be carefully managed to avoid deepening divisions or undermining national sovereignty.
The Security Crisis Beyond Religion
Even as US officials emphasize Christian persecution, security experts note that Nigeria’s crisis affects communities across religious and ethnic lines. Banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt, and separatist violence in the South-East have collectively strained the state’s capacity.
However, Moore and his allies insist that acknowledging the broader crisis does not negate the reality of targeted attacks. “You can recognize complexity without denying intent,” one congressional aide told DDM NEWS. “And what Congressman Moore saw convinced him that intent exists.”
What Comes Next?
Perhaps the most consequential aspect of Moore’s statement is his assertion that the airstrikes are only the first action. While US officials have not outlined specific next steps, the implication is that Washington is prepared to escalate diplomatic, economic, and possibly military pressure if violence continues.
Potential measures discussed in policy circles include expanded intelligence sharing, targeted sanctions against individuals or groups accused of orchestrating attacks, increased military assistance to Nigerian forces, and sustained international advocacy.
For Nigeria, the challenge will be navigating this intensified scrutiny while preserving sovereignty and addressing the root causes of violence. For the United States, the risk lies in becoming more deeply entangled in a complex conflict with no easy solutions.
A Defining Moment
As DDM NEWS continues to monitor developments, one thing is clear: the recent US airstrikes and the accompanying congressional declarations mark a turning point in international engagement with Nigeria’s security crisis.
Whether this moment leads to genuine protection for vulnerable communities, a recalibration of Nigerian security strategy, or new tensions on the global stage will depend on actions taken in the weeks ahead.
What cannot be ignored is the message Washington believes it has sent. As Congressman Riley Moore put it, this was not a symbolic gesture or a one-off operation. In his words, it was a warning—and a beginning.
“This is just the first step,” he said. “And the world is watching what happens next.”