Plateau Attack: US Lawmaker Calls for Forceful Action From Trump 

A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has urged President Donald Trump’s administration to take strong action after gunmen attacked mourners in Plateau State.

Moore made the call on Thursday after reports emerged from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly opened fire on residents who had gathered for a mass burial.

The mourners were burying seven people killed earlier in the community when the fresh attack happened. Several people were feared dead, while many others sustained injuries.

As of the time of the report, the police had not officially confirmed the incident.

Moore Accuses Nigerian Government of Failure

Moore criticised the Nigerian government for what he described as a failure to protect Christians in Plateau State.

He compared the situation with Nigeria’s swift military response to the attempted coup in Benin Republic in December 2025.

According to him, Nigeria acted quickly to support another country but failed to stop killings within its own borders.

He said the scenes from Plateau were “horrific” and accused the government of ignoring warnings before the attack.

Call for US Pressure

Moore asked the Trump administration to defend Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

He said the region had become the centre of what he called an ongoing Christian genocide.

His comments also received support from Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom International.

Nelson said Moore’s statement was forceful and called for maximum US pressure on Nigeria.

Witnesses Describe Attack

Journalist Masara Kim, who witnessed the attack, said the gunmen came from nearby hills and began shooting at mourners.

He said several communities south of Jos came under attack at the same time.

According to him, villagers had barely dug a shallow grave when the attackers struck, forcing residents to run for safety.

Nigerian Government Rejects Genocide Claims

The attack comes as some US conservative politicians and advocacy groups continue to accuse Nigeria of failing to protect Christians.

The Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims of a Christian genocide.

It maintains that insecurity affects both Muslims and Christians. It also says the violence comes from terrorism, banditry, criminal gangs and communal conflict.

For now, Moore’s statement has pushed the Plateau killings back into international focus. But for affected communities, the bigger demand remains protection, justice and an end to repeated attacks.