A senior US lawmaker says he will soon brief the White House on the situation of Christians in Nigeria, amid growing concern over attacks on religious communities in parts of the country.
Republican Congressman Riley Moore said he plans to present options to the US government on how Christians in Nigeria can be better protected. He made the comments in a post on social media on Tuesday.
Mr Moore was responding to remarks by Bishop Robert Barron, who recently highlighted reports of killings and violence against Christians in Nigeria.
“Thank you for shedding light on how our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted for their faith in Nigeria,” Mr Moore wrote. He added that he would soon brief the White House on the issue.
The congressman also linked the planned briefing to recently passed US legislation on national security and foreign affairs. He said the House Appropriations Committee would submit a report to President Donald Trump, outlining facts and oversight findings on the situation in Nigeria, as well as possible policy responses.
Concerns about insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the north and parts of the Middle Belt, have intensified in recent weeks following reports of attacks on churches and abductions of worshippers.
The recent Abduction took place on 18 January in Kurmin Wali, a community in the Kajuru Local Government Area, where gunmen stormed three churches during Sunday services. Local religious leaders say many of those taken were elderly, women and children.
Christian groups and community leaders have provided differing figures, with some placing the number of abducted worshippers at around 163 to 172, of whom only a few have managed to escape.
