- Reports that more than 600,000 Christians currently live in IDP camps in Benue State alone
U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has raised fresh international alarm over the scale of violence in Benue State, describing the suffering of displaced Christians as “horrific.” Moore made the remarks after a recent fact-finding mission where he met survivors now living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state. In a statement released on his official X (Twitter) handle on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the lawmaker said he spoke with “dozens of Christians who were driven from their homes and subjected to horrific violence,” adding that their stories “will remain with me for the rest of my life.”
Moore recounted harrowing testimonies, including that of a woman who was forced to watch as attackers killed her husband and five children before she barely escaped with her unborn child. Another woman told him her family was murdered before her eyes and her baby was violently ripped from her womb. One man described how his entire family was hacked to death as he watched helplessly, sustaining a severe arm injury that left him permanently disfigured. According to Moore, more than 600,000 Christians are currently living in IDP camps in Benue State alone.
He stressed that these Christians “should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear,” while condemning what he described as genocidal attacks by armed Fulani groups. The congressman’s statement adds to growing international concern over recurring violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where thousands have been killed or displaced over the past decade. Nigerian authorities have repeatedly vowed to address the crisis, but survivors say meaningful relief remains elusive. Moore’s remarks are expected to amplify pressure on both Nigerian and U.S. officials to intensify humanitarian assistance and push for lasting security solutions in affected communities.
