WASHINGTON / ABUJA — A senior U.S. lawmaker is preparing a formal report for President Donald Trump outlining a coordinated plan to work with the Nigerian government to address the ongoing killings in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the broader terrorism threat in the North-East. Rep. Riley Moore of the U.S. House of Representatives said the report to be sent directly to Trump will propose a roadmap for deeper cooperation between Washington and Abuja to help end violence and protect vulnerable communities. Moore disclosed the development in a social media post on X, stressing that the plan aims to “end the slaughter of innocent Christians in the Middle Belt and stop the ongoing terrorist threat in the Northeast.”
The plan comes amid heightened U.S. concern over Nigeria’s security situation. Recent discussions in Washington have included possible sanctions and increased Pentagon engagement to compel improved protection for civilians, particularly after Nigeria’s redesignation as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations.
Moore’s forthcoming report is expected to build on earlier high-level talks. A U.S. delegation, including Moore himself, recently held productive meetings with Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other officials, discussing concrete steps to tackle insecurity and broaden cooperation.
Earlier U.S. engagement has also included discussions on creating a joint Nigeria–U.S. task force aimed at countering terrorism and improving security coordination, reflecting bipartisan interest in addressing the complex violence that has afflicted parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North-East.
The move to brief Trump comes against a backdrop of intensifying U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s handling of security and religious freedom. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has considered a range of measures, including potential economic sanctions, as well as pressing Nigerian authorities to do more to protect civilians from violent extremist groups.
Trump’s earlier designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern a status triggered by alleged widespread killing of Christians has drawn both domestic and international attention, prompting congressional hearings and public debate within the U.S. government on how best to respond.
The Nigerian government has generally rejected allegations that its security forces are failing to protect Christians or that a targeted genocide is underway, framing the violence instead as part of long-standing conflicts involving multiple actors and overlapping causes.
As the formal report to President Trump is finalized, Nigeria’s security landscape marked by terrorist activity, communal clashes, and high-profile attacks and U.S. policy responses are likely to remain at the center of diplomatic dialogue in the weeks ahead.