A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has stirred fresh international debate after alleging that Fulani militants have killed more Nigerians than Boko Haram and ISIS-linked groups in recent times.
The claim has sparked renewed attention on Nigeria’s security challenges and the global conversation around violence, terrorism and religious tensions in parts of the country.
Moore made the statement on his verified 𝕏 (Twitter) account, reacting to a recent report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
US Report Highlights Alleged Scale Of Armed Groups In Nigeria
The controversy follows the publication of USCIRF’s May 2026 report titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants.”
According to the report, an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants are active across Nigeria, operating in fragmented groups ranging from small units of 10 fighters to larger formations of up to 1,000 members.
The commission described the group as one of the most significant non-state actors contributing to religious freedom violations in the country.
The report has already triggered debate among security analysts, human rights observers and policymakers over the accuracy, classification and implications of such claims.
“More Deadly Than Boko Haram” — US Lawmaker Claims
Reacting directly to the report, Congressman Riley Moore said the findings reflect what he described as a disturbing reality already submitted to former US President Donald Trump in an earlier briefing.
According to Moore, violence attributed to Fulani militants has now surpassed that of Boko Haram and ISIS-linked operations in terms of casualties over the past year.
He claimed that innocent Christian communities have been the most affected by the violence.
“Fulani militants killed more people in Nigeria over the past year than Boko Haram or ISIS,” Moore said.
“Innocent Christians are bearing the brunt of this violent persecution.”
Call For US Intervention And Religious Protection
Moore further argued that the United States has a responsibility to respond more aggressively to the situation, citing religious persecution concerns.
He referenced previous remarks attributed to Donald Trump’s administration, which reportedly identified the protection of Nigerian Christians as part of its counterterrorism focus.
According to him, global powers must continue to monitor and respond to extremist violence in Nigeria and similar conflict zones.
Nigeria’s Complex Security Reality
Nigeria continues to face multiple security threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and farmer-herder clashes in several regions.
However, claims linking specific ethnic or religious identities to violence remain highly sensitive and often disputed by Nigerian authorities and analysts, who caution against broad generalisations.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that Nigeria’s crisis is complex, involving criminal networks, ideological extremists and resource-based conflicts rather than a single uniform group.
Growing International Attention On Nigeria
The latest remarks from a US lawmaker add to a growing wave of international commentary on Nigeria’s internal security situation.
While some foreign reports frame the crisis through religious persecution narratives, others emphasise economic drivers, governance gaps and regional instability.
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The divergence in interpretation continues to fuel debate both within Nigeria and abroad.
A Debate Far From Over
As discussions intensify, the core questions remain unresolved:
- Who exactly are the perpetrators driving violence in Nigeria’s conflict zones?
- Are the incidents primarily ideological, criminal, or resource-based?
- And how should international actors engage without worsening internal tensions?
For now, the claims by Congressman Riley Moore have added another layer of complexity to an already sensitive and deeply contested national security conversation.