US Lawmaker Condemns Burning of Taraba Catholic Church, Warns Over Attacks on Christians

A United States lawmaker, Riley M. Moore, has condemned the reported burning of a Catholic church in northeastern Nigeria, warning about what he described as escalating violence against Christians in the country.

Moore made the remarks in a post on his X account on Friday while reacting to reports that terrorists set fire to St. Mary’s Cathedral Wukari in Wukari.

Quoting a biblical passage, the Republican congressman wrote: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

He added that the words of Christ remain a source of comfort amid what he described as increasing attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

“At a time like this, there is no greater comfort than the words of our Lord,” Moore stated.

The lawmaker also drew attention to the destruction of the cathedral, saying Christians in Nigeria continued to face violence because of their faith.

“Christians in Nigeria continue to be attacked for their faith. Recently, terrorists burned down St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wukari, Taraba State,” he said.

Moore further referenced the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over issues relating to religious freedom, stressing that Washington should not ignore such incidents.

“The United States has declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and we won’t stand idly by as Christians continue to face this violence,” he added.

Nigeria has in recent years faced recurring security challenges involving armed groups, bandits and insurgents across several regions, with religious leaders and international organisations repeatedly raising concerns over attacks on places of worship and local communities.