A United States congressman has sounded the alarm over what he described as an escalating threat by Islamic State-linked militants against Christian communities in Nigeria.
Representative Riley Moore said the recent social-media posts purporting to show an ISWAP statement and images of a burning village in Adamawa State should end any lingering debate over whether Christians are being targeted for their faith.
“If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.
“This isn’t about land usage, ‘climate change,’ or any other argument the Left wants to make. This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple,” he wrote on X on Thursday night.
The congressman was responding to viral content that allegedly showed an Islamic State West Africa Province communiqué declaring that Christians across Nigeria were legitimate targets unless they converted to Islam or paid a jizyah levy.
“ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood’ by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP.”
In a separate post, Moore said: “ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood’ if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior though.”
He welcomed the reported cooperation between Washington and Abuja in confronting the threat, adding that the US president was working with Nigerian authorities to halt the advances of the militants.
“Thankfully, @POTUS is continuing to work in cooperation with the Nigerian government to stop these Islamic radicals and defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Last week, the White House announced that American forces had carried out airstrikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria, a move the US Africa Command later confirmed as strikes in Sokoto State.
The strikes and the viral ISWAP posts have intensified debate at home and abroad over the nature of the violence and the measures needed to protect civilians.
