Nigeria’s Unity Under Scrutiny: IPOB, US Lawmaker Clash Over Christian Safety

US lawmaker Riley Moore

Nigeria’s Unity Under Scrutiny: IPOB, US Lawmaker Clash Over Christian Safety

A public dispute has emerged between US Congressman Riley Moore and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over Nigeria’s security, religious persecution, and self-determination movements. The exchange highlights growing international attention on separatist agitations in Nigeria and ongoing debates over national unity, minority protection, and regional stability.

US Congressman Moore’s Warning

Congressman Riley Moore cautioned that international support or recognition of Nigerian separatist groups could embolden movements like IPOB, potentially undermining Nigeria’s territorial integrity and exacerbating conflicts across the country.

“Efforts to legitimize separatist movements risk intensifying violence and destabilizing regions already plagued by terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes,” Moore said, urging that dialogue and constitutional solutions should take precedence over support for unilateral independence claims.

Moore stressed that while peaceful advocacy is acceptable, backing secessionist ambitions without addressing underlying security and governance challenges could inadvertently strengthen extremist elements in Nigeria. His statement reflects international concerns over the intersection of ethnic grievances, religious tensions, and political instability in the country.

IPOB’s Rebuttal

Responding to Moore, IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, described the US lawmaker’s remarks as based on flawed assumptions and a misreading of history. In a statement titled “A Response to Rep. Riley Moore on Nigeria, Religious Persecution, and Self-Determination,” IPOB argued that Nigeria’s unity has failed to protect Christians, particularly in the North, Middle Belt, and parts of the South-West.

Powerful criticized Nigeria’s British-designed central structure, saying six decades of unity have coincided with killings, mass displacement, church burnings, and a culture of impunity allegedly enabled by the state.

“The crisis is not a lack of international cooperation against terrorism, but a structural failure rooted in a forced union of incompatible religious and civilizational systems,” he said.

Addressing concerns that self-determination could encourage terrorism, IPOB insisted that terrorism thrives where oppressed groups are denied autonomy, rather than where peaceful self-rule is pursued. Powerful cited Afghanistan and historical examples like the Huguenots in England and the State of Israel as proof that self-rule can provide safety for persecuted minorities.

He emphasized that IPOB’s agitation, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is non-violent and advocates for a democratic referendum. A restored Biafra, according to IPOB, would serve as a safe civilisational anchor for Christians and other faiths, potentially offering refuge for persecuted communities from other parts of Nigeria.

Powerful also noted that since IPOB’s emergence, mass killings of Igbos in Northern Nigeria have significantly declined, which he attributes to collective self-assertion and deterrence. He warned that rejecting peaceful constitutional exits while insisting on the permanence of a broken state will only prolong persecution and instability.

“An independent Biafra would not threaten regional stability, but enhance it. True peace, safety, and dignity follow self-rule, not forced unity,” Powerful added.

Context and Implications

The dispute underscores a growing international focus on Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, and security challenges, especially in areas prone to banditry, terrorism, and communal violence. Analysts say it highlights the delicate balance for international actors, who must address human rights and minority protection without appearing to back secessionist ambitions.

The exchange between Moore and IPOB also reignites debates on Nigeria’s structural failures, self-determination rights, and the effectiveness of current security measures in protecting vulnerable communities. Civil society organizations and religious leaders continue to call for inclusive dialogue, stronger governance, and protection of minorities to prevent further instability.