United States congressman, Riley Moore, has warned that continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria could strain diplomatic relations with the US, following reports of a deadly Palm Sunday killings in Jos, Plateau state, and Kaduna state.
No fewer than 40 people were killed by gunmen suspected to be terrorists on Sunday night at Angwa Rukuba Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State and Kahir village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
While 27 were killed at Rukuba community in Plateau, 13 wedding guests were mowed down by the attackers in Kaduna.
The Police in Plateau, however, said only 14 people were killed in the attack that marred Palm Sunday in the community.
The development forced the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to reschedul examinations earlier scheduled for the Monday and Tuesday as a result of the attack.
The university in a statement by its Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, said: “The Vice Chancellor has directed that all examinations scheduled to hold on Monday (yesterday) and Tuesday (today) will be rescheduled.
“This is in view of the Sunday night attack by gunmen on residents of Angwan Rukuba and the consequential tensions it has generated in and around the area.’’
Reacting to the killings in a post on X Monday, Moore condemned the reported killing of Christians in Anguwan Rukuba, describing the incident as part of a troubling pattern of violence targeting worshippers during religious observances.
The congressman, who was part of a United States fact-finding delegation on alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, added that such attacks had become frequent during Christian holy days, urging Nigerian authorities to take decisive action to prevent further bloodshed.
“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos. Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on the Christians before hacking them to pieces with machetes. This is sickening and unacceptable, but it’s not surprising.
“This tragedy follows a pattern of radical Islamic terrorists massacring Christians on Holy Days. In fact, terrorists have attacked Christians in Nigeria on every single holy day in recent memory, except for last Christmas when President Trump sent 12 tomahawk cruise missiles to stop them,” he added.
Moore called on the Nigerian federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to urgently strengthen security measures ahead of upcoming religious events.
“Abuja knows this pattern and they must massively ramp up security for the Tridduum and Easter. If they don’t take this threat seriously and mobilise to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, blood of these martyrs will be on their hands, and there will be significant consequences for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the attackers of the Plateau community, said to be in large numbers, stormed the densely populated community at about 7:30 pm on Palm Sunday and opened sporadic fire on residents, throwing the area into panic.
The latest violence comes amid heightened tensions in parts of Plateau state, with residents calling for improved security measures to prevent further bloodshed.
Consequently, Plateau state government imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area, following the tragic incident.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, the government strongly condemned the “barbaric and unprovoked attack” on innocent citizens.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang assured residents that all necessary measures were being taken to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
