By Ojay Matthew
The Kebbi State Government has dismissed as incorrect and misleading the claim by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore that the abduction of schoolgirls in Maga occurred in a “Christian enclave.”
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, on Tuesday, the state government said the lawmaker’s assertion—reported by Daily Post on November 18, 2025—misrepresented the realities of the affected community.
According to the government, Maga, located in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, is predominantly Muslim, and most of the abducted students are Muslims. The statement stressed that this contradicts Congressman Moore’s suggestion that the community was targeted due to its religious identity.
The government further clarified that the lawmaker’s comments on the vulnerability of “persecuted” communities do not align with verified security trends in the region. It noted that banditry in northwestern Nigeria overwhelmingly affects Muslim-majority communities and is not driven by religious motivations.
“Criminal groups in the Northwest do not discriminate based on religion,” the statement read. “These bandits have attacked and killed Muslims in their places of worship more often than Christians.”
The government cited a recent attack in a village near Malumfashi, Katsina State, where several Muslim worshippers were killed inside a mosque during prayers. “If these criminals were driven by religious motives, why then would they attack Muslims while praying in the mosque?” the statement queried.
The government expressed concern that the U.S. lawmaker may have been misinformed or may have overlooked the established patterns of violence in the region. It emphasized that terrorists and bandits in Nigeria target victims indiscriminately—whether in homes, schools, places of worship, or on highways.
It also highlighted that for more than a decade, predominantly Muslim states such as Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have borne the brunt of Boko Haram’s insurgency, while northwestern states including Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi have suffered the highest casualties from banditry.
The statement urged Congressman Moore and others making similar claims to verify information thoroughly before issuing public comments that could distort facts or deepen misunderstanding.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to addressing insecurity and ensuring accurate representation of events within the state.
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