Moore Shares Harrowing Accounts Of Violence Against Christians In Nigerian IDP Camps

A U.S. Legislator, Riley Moore, has brought harrowing firsthand accounts of violence against Christians in Nigeria’s Benue State to the attention of the international community, detailing horrific incidents and highlighting the plight of hundreds of thousands displaced in the region.

U.S. Representative Riley Moore, who recently visited Benue State, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to share the deeply disturbing testimonies he heard from individuals residing in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

His posts paint a grim picture of the ongoing challenges faced by Christian communities in the area, attributing their displacement and suffering to what he described as “genocidal Fulani.”

“While in Benue, I met with dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence and now live in IDP camps,” Representative Moore stated in his initial X post.

He further elaborated, “They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

The legislator provided specific, albeit anonymised, accounts that underscore the brutality described by the displaced individuals. Among the most shocking were the testimonies of women who endured unimaginable loss.

“One woman was forced to watch as they killed her husband and five children,” Representative Moore recounted. ” She and her unborn child barely escaped.”

The sheer trauma of witnessing such an event, coupled with the threat to her own life and that of her unborn child, illustrates the profound terror experienced by victims.

Another account detailed an equally devastating loss. “Another woman’s family was murdered in front of her, and her baby was ripped from her womb,” the representative wrote, highlighting a particularly gruesome act of violence that has drawn widespread condemnation in similar contexts.

The violence has not been limited to women and children. Representative Moore also shared the story of a man who suffered grievous physical and emotional wounds.

“One man’s family was hacked to death in his eyes, and his arm was permanently mangled,” he reported, emphasising the brutal and life-altering nature of the attacks.

The scale of displacement in Benue State is staggering, according to the legislator’s reporting. “There are more than 600,000 Christians in IDP camps in Benue State alone,” Representative Moore revealed, underscoring the immense humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

“These individuals, forced from their ancestral lands, now subsist in camps, their lives upended by the violence.”

Representative Moore further explained that his series of posts with a strong call for action and a clear assertion of the victims’ rights.

“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani,” he stated, directly identifying the perpetrators and framing the conflict as an existential threat to Christian communities.

The legislator’s statements are likely to intensify calls for increased international attention and potential intervention to address the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria.

His graphic descriptions serve as a stark reminder of the severe human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for security and stability in Benue State and beyond.

The Nigerian government has previously acknowledged security challenges in various parts of the country, often citing a complex interplay of factors including farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, and insurgent activities.

However, accusations of targeted violence against specific religious or ethnic groups, as articulated by Representative Moore, continue to fuel international concern and demand for accountability.

Further details regarding Representative Moore’s visit to Benue State and any planned follow-up actions are expected to emerge as his office responds to the widespread attention his X posts have garnered.

The accounts he shared highlight the critical need for diplomatic engagement, humanitarian assistance, and a comprehensive approach to resolving the root causes of the conflict in Nigeria.