Christian Genocide: U.S. Envoy Reports Over 600,000 Christians Displaced in Nigeria’s Benue State

U.S. Envoy Reports Over 600,000 Christians Displaced in Nigeria’s Benue State.

A visiting United States official has publicly stated that more than 600,000 Christians are living in camps for displaced people in just one Nigerian state, a figure that adds weight to long-standing claims of targeted violence but is strongly disputed by the Nigerian government.

Riley Moore, who led a U.S. congressional delegation on a fact-finding visit to Nigeria to examine allegations of a Christian genocide, shared the information after meeting with community and religious leaders in Benue State.

During the trip, Moore said he received firsthand accounts and saw documents, some reportedly detailing killings that have not been widely reported. He described the situation in the state as “terrible.”

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“We met with Christian leaders in the state and saw raw documentation, even some that are yet to be reported, of the killings and persecution of Christians in the North part of the country,” a source familiar with the delegation’s findings noted.

This assessment stands in direct opposition to the consistent position of the Nigerian federal government. Officials in Abuja have repeatedly stated there is no genocide, arguing that insurgent violence affects both Christians and Muslims equally. Critics, however, point to the government’s inability to explain the high number of displaced Christians or prevent the repeated attacks that have completely destroyed some Christian-majority villages.

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Some Muslim clerics in Nigeria have also rejected the genocide label, suggesting that Muslim communities have suffered more from violence by groups like Boko Haram and bandits. They have, however, not provided detailed public reports on Muslim displacement and deaths to support this comparison, a point of contention raised by observers.

The issue has drawn increasing international attention. The United States has already placed Nigeria on a list of “Countries of Particular Concern” regarding religious freedom, citing what it calls a systematic effort to wipe out Christian communities, a charge Nigeria denies.

Moore was photographed during the visit with local Christian leaders and villagers. His report is expected to inform U.S. policy discussions. Some Nigerians are now concerned about the potential consequences, which could include sanctions, cuts to foreign aid, or increased diplomatic pressure.

The Nigerian government has yet to issue a formal response to the specific displacement figure cited by Moore. As the international community digests this latest report, many are waiting to see how it will affect the relationship between the two nations and what actions, if any, may follow.