.jpg)
JOS, NIGERIA — A somber Palm Sunday in Plateau State turned into a diplomatic flashpoint as U.S. Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) issued a stern warning to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The warning follows a brutal attack in the Anguwan Rukuba area of Jos, which left at least a dozen people dead and sparked a wave of retaliatory violence.
The incident, which occurred during one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar, has reignited international concerns regarding religious freedom and the safety of minority communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Taking to social media on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Congressman Moore a key figure in the U.S. fact-finding delegation on religious persecution expressed outrage over reports that Christians were targeted while preparing for worship.
"Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on Christians before hacking them to pieces," Moore wrote. "This tragedy follows a pattern of radical Islamic terrorists massacring Christians on Holy Days. Abuja knows this pattern, and they must massively ramp up security for the Triduum and Easter."
The lawmaker warned that if the Nigerian government fails to mobilize and defend its citizens, there will be "significant consequences" for the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
Moore’s comments carry extra weight given the Trump administration's aggressive pivot regarding Nigerian security. In late 2025, President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) and threatened to "go in guns-a-blazing" or cut all foreign aid if the "slaughter of Christians" was not halted.
The Congressman referenced a previous incident where he claimed U.S. military deterrence specifically 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles prevented attacks during a prior Christmas season, though Nigerian officials have consistently maintained that security challenges are rooted in complex land and criminal disputes rather than state-sponsored religious persecution.
Local reports from Anguwan Rukuba describe a chaotic scene where gunmen opened fire at a local restaurant and social hub. According to the Plateau State Red Cross, the initial shooting claimed 12 lives, but the death toll rose to at least 27 after an angry mob formed to hunt down the attackers, leading to further communal bloodletting.
The Plateau State government has imposed heightened security measures, but the recurrent nature of these attacks has left the international community skeptical of the federal government's containment strategy.
The timing of this attack is particularly sensitive as Moore and fellow lawmaker Rep. Chris Smith recently introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026. This legislation would require the U.S. Secretary of State to provide exhaustive reports on Nigeria’s efforts to prosecute perpetrators of religious violence and protect vulnerable communities.