A member of the United States Congress, Riley M. Moore, has strongly criticised The New York Times over its recent report on the nature of violence in Nigeria, accusing the publication of downplaying attacks against Christians.
The controversy began after the newspaper published an article suggesting that some U.S. lawmakers had inaccurately described the killings in Nigeria as a targeted religious genocide. According to the report, analysts argue that the crisis is more complex, involving criminal activities, land disputes, and multiple armed groups rather than purely religious motivations.
Reacting via social media, Moore rejected the report’s conclusions, pointing to recent deadly incidents in Jos as evidence that religious persecution remains a key factor. He described the newspaper’s coverage as misleading and criticised it for not seeking his input before publishing.
The congressman expressed concern that the severity of attacks on Christian communities is not being adequately acknowledged, questioning how long such incidents would continue before being recognised as faith-based violence.
Moore also voiced support for victims of the attacks and extended solidarity to Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau State, as well as affected communities.
Meanwhile, the New York Times report maintains that violence in Nigeria affects people across different religious and ethnic groups, with experts highlighting banditry, competition over land, and organised crime as major drivers of the crisis.
The debate has drawn reactions from observers and analysts familiar with the situation. Some argue that the conflict cannot be reduced to a single cause, while others insist that religious persecution plays a significant role.
The ongoing disagreement reflects a broader divide between international media interpretations and perspectives from certain political figures and advocacy groups regarding the root causes of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Data from monitoring organisations indicates that thousands of people have been killed in various attacks across the country in recent years, with Nigeria remaining one of the most affected regions by violent conflict.