A United States Congressman, Rep. Riley Moore, has said the U.S. government is deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to help train the country’s military in its fight against Islamist militants.
Moore made the disclosure during an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, describing the security situation in parts of Nigeria as dire.
According to him, information from sources on the ground indicates widespread violence in affected regions. He claimed that as many as 300 people have been killed, adding that a priest and 10 members of his parish were recently kidnapped.
Moore noted that many of the victims were Muslims who reportedly refused to submit to Sharia law, stressing that the violence cuts across religious lines.
He added that Christians were also targeted, alleging that some were killed after attackers set a church ablaze.
The planned deployment, he said, is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to confront militant groups and curb the ongoing violence.
