A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has said recent American airstrikes in Nigeria helped prevent deadly attacks during the 2025 Christmas period, contrasting the military action with previous years marked by violence against Christian communities.
In a post on X on Saturday, Moore recalled that Christians were killed in Nigeria during the past two Christmas seasons but said this year was different, as US forces targeted Islamist militant groups instead.
“For the past two Christmases, Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. This year, thanks to @POTUS, radical Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles,” Moore wrote.
He added that the strikes, which he said were carried out against ISIS elements in coordination with the Nigerian government, represented “the first step to securing the country and ending the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The comments followed an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Thursday that American forces had launched airstrikes against Islamic State terrorists in north-western Nigeria.
Trump said further military action would follow if the militants continued attacks on Christians, noting on his Truth Social platform that the Department of War executed what he described as “numerous perfect strikes.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria confirmed the airstrikes on Friday.
The development comes against the backdrop of repeated Christmas-period violence in recent years.
On Christmas Eve in 2023, at least 140 people were reported killed, with others missing, after gunmen attacked several remote communities in Plateau State.
In 2024, herdsmen reportedly raided five predominantly Christian villages in Benue State on Christmas Day, killing no fewer than 33 people.
