Riley Moore Questions Religious Expert on Nigerian Christian Killings

Discrepancies in Reported Killings

• 🎯 Riley Moore highlights a significant disparity between reported numbers of Christians killed in Nigeria and the Nigerian government's claims.
• 🗣️ The Nigerian Foreign Minister stated only 177 Christians were killed in the last five years, a figure Moore finds unbelievable, suggesting it may have been surpassed in just the last couple of months.

Challenges in Data Collection

• ❓ Nina Shea explains that the Nigerian government's lack of police work and the chaotic aftermath of attacks make accurate body counts difficult.
• 🏃 Witnesses often flee, evidence is destroyed, and local pastors and priests struggle to document events while aiding survivors.
• 📈 This leads to a wide range of numbers reported by non-governmental organizations, which are often more robust in their on-the-ground information networks.

Government Response and Early Warning Systems

• ⚠️ A pastor in Plateau State warned the Nigerian government of an imminent attack, but the warning was dismissed as "fake news" and "hyperbole."
• 💔 The following day, 13 Christians were murdered, illustrating the failure of early warning systems when warnings are ignored.
• 🤝 Moore emphasizes that the Nigerian government must prioritize these issues and cooperate with the United States to address them.

Differentiating Threats and US-Nigeria Relations

• ⚖️ The threats in Nigeria are bifurcated: the Fulani militants in the middle belt differ from Boko Haram and ISIS in the northeast, requiring different approaches.
• 🇺🇸 Strengthening the relationship between Nigeria and the United States is contingent on Nigerian cooperation and a willingness to address these critical issues.
• 🙏 Moore expresses deep personal concern, staying up at night and praying about the ongoing murders of Christians in Nigeria for their faith.