The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has vowed to intensify scrutiny of religious persecution in Nigeria, spotlighting the plight of more than 600,000 displaced Christians in Benue State’s IDP camps.

The pledge follows a fact-finding mission led by Congressman Riley Moore, who described “harrowing” survivor accounts of violence attributed to Fulani militants.

In a statement on X, the committee declared: “America will not look away as innocent lives are stolen.” The mission, ordered by President Donald Trump, is expected to inform a congressional report on Christian persecution and guide policy recommendations under the National Security Reinforcement Program (NSRP), which ties U.S. aid to human rights compliance.

Moore, representing West Virginia’s 2nd District, met Tiv and Catholic leaders including Bishops Wilfred Anagbe and Isaac Dugu, as well as Tiv ruler James Ioruza, during his visit to Benue. He described what he called an “ongoing genocidal campaign by the Fulani.” Survivors recounted brutal attacks: one woman said her husband and five children were killed before she fled with her unborn child; another claimed her baby was ripped from her womb; a man recalled watching relatives hacked to death while his own arm was mangled.

“These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear,” Moore posted, estimating more than 600,000 displaced in Benue alone. He praised Nigeria’s recent rescue of 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren and the establishment of a joint U.S.–Nigeria task force, but urged that “openness has to translate to concrete action.”

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu hosted the delegation, describing talks on terrorism in the Northeast and killings in the Middle Belt as “productive.” He highlighted ongoing cooperation, including a Pentagon meeting last month with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

The visit comes after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations, prompting congressional hearings and warnings of possible aid cuts or sanctions. Some U.S. officials have even hinted at military intervention if atrocities persist.

Nigerian responses remain divided. The Federal Government rejects claims of systemic persecution, insisting insecurity affects all faiths. APC member Bashir Ahmad accused Moore of bias for visiting only Christian IDP camps, arguing Muslim communities elsewhere face similar displacement. Rights groups such as Open Doors and USCIRF, however, echo Moore’s concerns, ranking Nigeria sixth globally for Christian persecution and reporting more than 5,000 deaths in 2024.

As Congress weighs next steps, the delegation’s report could reshape U.S.–Nigeria relations. For Benue’s displaced, Moore’s vow that “our brothers and sisters in Christ will no longer suffer in silence” resonates deeply, though the path from outrage to action remains blurred.