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US Congressman Visits Benue, Seeks Global Attention To IDP Crisis
United States Congressman, Riley Moore, on Wednesday shared accounts of violence against Christian communities in Benue State, recounting what he said he was told during a visit to camps for internally displaced persons.
US delegates in Benue
Writing on X, Moore said, while in Benue, he met “dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence and now live in IDP camps.”
According to the congressman, those he spoke with described attacks that left entire families dead and forced survivors to flee their villages.
“They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life,” Moore wrote.
He cited the case of one woman who, he said, “was forced to watch as they killed her husband and five children. She and her unborn child barely escaped.”
US Congressman Riley Moore and delegates in Benue
Another woman, he added, told him her family “was murdered in front of her and her baby was ripped from her womb.”
Moore also described the testimony of a man who said “his family was hacked to death in front of his eyes and his arm was permanently mangled.”
The congressman stated that “more than 600,000 Christians” are currently living in IDP camps in Benue State, a region that has experienced years of conflict between farming communities and armed groups.
“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” Moore wrote, calling for greater international attention to the crisis.
Moore had earlier posted that he met Tiv and Catholic leaders during his visit to the state.
“It was an honour and deeply moving to meet with His Excellency Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and His Royal Highness James Ioruza, traditional ruler of the Tiv people, to discuss the ongoing genocidal campaign by the Fulani in Benue State,” he wrote.
He added that the US would not ignore the experiences shared by local communities.
Moore described his trip as a “very productive visit to Nigeria,” noting on Monday that he held talks with National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other senior officials.
He said the discussions focused on terrorism in the North-East and killings in the Middle Belt, issues he described as priorities for President Donald Trump and himself.
According to Moore, both sides examined steps he believes could strengthen security if implemented fully.
He also referenced the rescue of more than 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, commending the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu for the operation.
Moore said US concerns were “positively received” and pointed to what he called a “now established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as a sign of progress.
However, he added that “now, that openness has to translate to concrete action,” stressing that “there is much work still to be done.”
The NSA confirmed hosting the US delegation as part of ongoing security consultations.
Ribadu said the visit followed earlier engagements in Washington, DC, and centred on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and efforts to “strengthen the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.”
The visit came during heightened diplomatic tensions after the Trump administration redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, a move accompanied by warnings of possible US military intervention.
The Federal Government have repeatedly rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.
On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon to discuss coordinated strategies to address the country’s security crisis. The same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing to examine the implications of the redesignation.
Last Tuesday, House Republicans raised fresh concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump, who on October 31 directed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the slaughter of Christians and report back to the White House.
The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Monday stalled after two co-defendants failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who is standing trial on charges of alleged abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was present in court for the proceedings.
The former governor arrived at the court alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police personnel.
However, the court could not proceed with the case due to the absence of the two co-defendants, leading to an adjournment.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 28, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations against him, while prosecutors allege that public funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly handled during his tenure as governor.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, also directed that the order apply to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling stemmed from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet the performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
According to the former legislators, the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the required constitutional benchmarks. These include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They further told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure seats across key tiers of government. The plaintiffs argued that the continued recognition of the parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
On that basis, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further. They also sought, and obtained, an order restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
Additionally, the suit sought an injunction barring INEC from recognizing or dealing with the parties in any official capacity.
The Borno, Oyo, Kebbi, Kano and Niger State Governments has declared Tuesday a public holiday to commorate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year, 1448 after Hijira.
The year 1448 AH (Anno Hegirae) is the current year in the Islamic calendar.
Since the Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, it is approximately 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, the year 1448 AH overlaps parts of both the 2026 and 2027 Gregorian calendar years.
In a statement released on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar urged residents to use the period to rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development.
The statement reads “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, has declared Tuesday 1st Day of Muharram 1448 After Hijira (AH), which is equivalent to Tuesday 16th June 2026 as a Public Holiday to commerate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year 1448 (AH).
“All citizens are therefore enjoined to be faithful and reflect on this important date and rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development of our dear state in particular” he stated.
Tar also enjoined citizens to embrace the virtues of unity, solidarity, togetherness, tolerance, justice, mercy and multiculturalism that are essential to ensuring unity in diversity and unity of mankind.
“The Government and good people of Borno are committed to the unity, prosperity and existence of Nigeria, and to projecting Nigeria’s good image among the comity of nations in a globalised universe” he noted.
The commissioner said Governor Zulum enjoined the people of the state to pray for a peaceful, plural democratic entity, calling on all communities and faith groups to live in harmony and togetherness.
The Oyo State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as a public holiday.
This was made known in a circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde, and made available to newsmen on Monday.
According to the release, the work-free day is in honour of the Hijrah 1448AH celebration across the world. The government urged the citizens, especially Muslim faithful, to use the occasion to pray for the continued peace, unity, and progress of the state and the country in general.
The Niger State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a work-free day across the state to mark the commencement of the Islamic New Year 1448 AH.
The declaration, approved by Mohammed Umaru Bago, is intended to enable Muslims and other residents to reflect on the spiritual significance of the Hijrah—the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Makkah to Madinah.
The Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Abubakar Usman, described the Hijrah as a symbol of sacrifice, perseverance, faith, discipline, resilience, and commitment to righteousness.
The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate the beginning of the Islamic New Year, 1448 AH.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf congratulated Muslims in Kano State and across the country on witnessing the new Islamic year, which begins with Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
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