Nobody believes Tuggar’s claim of 177 Christians killed in five years – US Rep, Moore
A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, says no one believes the claim by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, that only 177 Christians have been killed in the country in the last five years.
Tuggar, who appeared as a guest on Piers Morgan’s show to challenge the Christian genocide allegations, had atempted to clarify figures, provide context, and address Nigeria’s complex security situation.
During the show, aired on Tuesday, Morgan presented figures from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) alleging over 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009 and 18,000 churches destroyed.
But Tuggar dismissed the figures as inaccurate and challenged the religious framing, saying the government does not tally deaths by faith and views all victims as Nigerians first.
When pressed for numbers, the minister went on to claim that only 177 Christians were killed and 102 churches attacked in the last five years in Nigeria.
Speaking at a congressional hearing in Washington DC on Thursday on the matter, Moore said he was puzzled at the disparity in figures.
The US lawmaker said he was especially concerned, as the Nigerian delegation, currently in Washington to address the matter, also disputed the figures.
“I recently saw the foreign minister was in some interview, I think it was Piers Morgan, and it was the same thing when they (the delegation) came here and some of us spoke to them, just disputing these numbers,” Moore said.
“I think the foreign minister said in the last five years there’s only 177 Christians have been killed.
“I don’t think there’s anybody believes that, and I don’t think that it’s necessarily constructive on their part to try to downplay what’s happening here.”
Moore said it was possible the number was achieved in just the last couple of months.
The congressman said Nigeria has an opportunity to “strengthen, deepen and broaden” its relationship with the US.
He said it would be possible if the country does that in “coordination and cooperation” with the US government.
