Riley Moore meets Mutfwang, promises US support to protect Nigerian Christians

2026-02-03 - 20:38

A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has met with Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, during the governor’s trade and security mission to the United States, pledging continued American support in addressing security and economic challenges in Nigeria, particularly the protection of Christians and other vulnerable groups. Moore disclosed the meeting in a post on X, describing the engagement with the Plateau governor as productive and forward-looking. “It was an honor to meet with the governor of Plateau State in Nigeria, Caleb Mutfwang, yesterday,” the lawmaker wrote. “We had a meaningful and productive conversation about deepening the ties between our two countries.” Moore said the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the areas of security, economic development and broader bilateral relations. It was an honor to meet with the Governor of Plateau State in Nigeria, @CalebMutfwang, yesterday. We had a meaningful and productive conversation about deepening the ties between our two countries. I remain committed to working with the Nigerian government in coordination and... pic.twitter.com/87Dh3SzSS4 — Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) February 3, 2026 He added that Washington remained committed to working with Nigeria to confront shared challenges. “I remain committed to working with the Nigerian government in coordination and cooperation to address these security and economic challenges, especially the persecution our Christian brothers and sisters face,” Moore said. The US congressman also commended Mutfwang for his efforts in Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt. “God bless you, Governor, for what you do to protect Christians and other vulnerable populations in the Middle Belt,” he added. Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said Mutfwang is currently on a strategic economic, development and security mission in the United States aimed at attracting investment and strengthening bilateral cooperation. According to the statement, the governor is expected to engage key institutions, including the United States Development Finance Corporation, the United States Export-Import Bank and senior officials of the US Department of State. The government said the engagements are part of efforts to deepen international partnerships and mobilise support for development and security initiatives in Plateau State. Moore had earlier indicated growing security cooperation between both countries. In December 2025, he announced that the Nigerian and United States governments were close to reaching an agreement on a “strategic security framework” to tackle terrorism in Nigeria. On January 25, the lawmaker also said the establishment of a US–Nigeria working group was a necessary step towards addressing the country’s security challenges. Vanguard News