A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has revealed that a Nigerian woman in Benue State told him she was forced to watch the killing of her husband and five children during violent attacks that have displaced more than 600,000 Christians in the state.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives, shared the account in a post on X on Wednesday while raising concerns about the scale of displacement in Benue.
He said he met several families who fled their homes after facing extreme violence and are now living in internally displaced persons camps.
He said many survivors described severe trauma, including the deaths of loved ones and life-altering injuries, before finding refuge in the camps.
According to him, those he interacted with recounted attacks on their communities and the emotional and physical harm they continue to endure.
He wrote, “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.
“They told harrowing stories that will remain with me for the rest of my life.
“One woman was forced to watch as they killed her husband and five children. She and her unborn child barely escaped.
“Another woman’s family was murdered in front of her, and her baby was ripped from her womb.
“One man’s family was hacked to death in front of his eyes, and his arm was permanently mangled.
“There are more than 600,000 Christians in IDP camps in Benue State alone.
“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani.”
In an earlier post on X on Sunday, Moore said he had wrapped up a “very productive” visit to Nigeria. “I came to Nigeria in the name of the Lord and on behalf of the American people,” he wrote.
Announcing the end of his trip, he added, “Just ending a very productive visit to Nigeria and rounds of meetings. More details to come. Happy Sunday. God is Great!” (Tribune)