Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria — A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has cautioned that continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria could negatively affect relations between the United States and Nigeria after a deadly Palm Sunday incident in central Nigeria.
The lawmaker raised the concern on Monday, March 30, 2026, while reacting to reports that at least 10 Christians were killed in Anguwan Rukuba, a community in Jos, the capital of Plateau State. The attack reportedly occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, during Palm Sunday celebrations, an important observance in the Christian calendar.
Okay News reports that Moore described the killings as part of what he called a pattern of violence targeting Christian worshippers during religious holidays. He noted that he had previously participated in a United States fact-finding delegation investigating allegations of violence against Christians in Nigeria.
“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.”
The congressman further alleged that such attacks have frequently taken place during Christian holy days, urging authorities in Nigeria to act decisively to prevent further bloodshed.
“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 also called on Nigeria’s federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to strengthen security ahead of upcoming religious events, including Easter celebrations.
“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 mobilize 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 stated.
Reiterating his concerns, Moore added: “Radical Islamic terrorists opened fire on Christians on Sunday March 29, before hacking them to pieces with machetes in Nigeria.”
The attack has renewed concerns about security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where intercommunal violence and armed attacks have occurred in recent years. Observers say the incident may increase international scrutiny on Nigeria’s security response as Easter celebrations approach.
