The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has criticised the recent visit of a United States congressional delegation to Nigeria, alleging that aspects of the trip reflected sectarian bias rather than balanced diplomatic engagement.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, MPAC expressed concern over what it described as the delegation’s selective consultations, particularly the actions of U.S. Congressman Riley Moore.

The lawmaker, who has publicly promoted claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, announced on his X (formerly Twitter) account that his mission to Nigeria was undertaken “in the name of the Lord” and highlighted meetings with several Christian and traditional leaders, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and Tiv traditional ruler, James Ioruza.

Moore also referenced discussions about what he called “the ongoing genocidal campaign by the Fulani in Benue State,” comments MPAC says reinforce a one-sided narrative of Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

According to the organisation, while the congressional delegation’s itinerary was filled with security-related engagements with government institutions, its selective outreach during the visit raised serious questions about intent and neutrality.

MPAC noted that the team did not hold any meetings with prominent Muslim leaders or institutions, including the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the country’s apex Muslim body.

“This was not a scheduling oversight. It was a message,” MPAC stated, arguing that the decision to meet only Christian and traditional leaders while excluding Muslim leadership amounted to a deliberate act of partisanship.

The group added that the delegation also failed to visit Muslim communities affected by violence or meet Muslim victims, whose experiences form a critical part of Nigeria’s security landscape.

MPAC warned that such a pattern of “selective listening, selective engagement, and selective outrage” risks deepening mistrust and exacerbating religious sensitivities in a country where faith identity remains deeply woven into national and social life.

The organisation further expressed concern that some U.S. evangelical and pro-Israel lobby groups known for promoting anti-Muslim narratives may be influencing American foreign policy positions on Nigeria.

It cautioned that Nigeria should not become “a playground for imported prejudice.”

Calling for fairness in international engagement, MPAC urged foreign partners to show balance and avoid reinforcing sectarian narratives that could inflame tensions.

“Nigeria deserves fairness. Nigerian Muslims deserve respect,” the statement concluded. “Engagements with our country must reflect neutrality, not predetermined narratives.”