United States Congressman Riley Moore has renewed his call for a decentralized police force in Nigeria, arguing that state governments should take on more responsibility for local security. Moore highlighted the need for urgent action on X, pointing to communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt that have been repeatedly targeted by extremist groups.
Moore’s intervention comes after years of observing the rise of violence and religious persecution across Nigeria. He has focused on attacks affecting Christian communities and the broader impact of extremist activity. His stance reflects policy approaches seen during the Donald Trump administration, particularly concerning religious freedoms and security priorities.
In recent months, Moore led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Nigeria to examine conditions on the ground. The group met with victims of violence, religious leaders, and senior government officials to gain firsthand insight into the challenges facing local law enforcement and communities.
Beyond security, Moore has pushed for Nigeria to regain its designation as a Country of Particular Concern, a status tied to serious religious persecution. He argues that restoring this designation would reinforce accountability and signal international concern over ongoing human rights issues.
Moore’s advocacy emphasizes the link between governance, community security, and religious freedom. By calling for a decentralized police force in Nigeria, he is pressing the federal government to shift some policing powers closer to the communities affected, aiming for a faster and more responsive approach to escalating violence.
The debate over police decentralization in Nigeria intersects with broader questions of state capacity, local governance, and national stability. Moore’s public statements signal growing international attention to these challenges and underscore the urgency of reforms that address both immediate security threats and long-term structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s law enforcement framework.
