IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that the individual responsible for an attack at Old Dominion University had previously met with members of the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Nigeria before carrying out the incident.

Moore made the claim on Saturday, March 14, 2025, while reacting to the attack, which he said raised serious concerns about national security and the handling of individuals previously linked to extremist organisations.

According to the lawmaker, the suspect had earlier been imprisoned but was released before the attack despite alleged ties to the terrorist group.

“The radical Islamic terrorist who attacked Old Dominion yesterday was let out of prison early despite meeting with ISIL in Nigeria and seeking to aide and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland,” Moore said.

The congressman criticised the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.

“This is insane and it MUST END! That’s why I’m introducing a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who seeks to commit a terrorist attack or aids and abets terrorism against the American people,” he said.

Moore said he plans to introduce legislation aimed at allowing the United States government to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens involved in terrorism-related activities and deport them.

The proposal comes amid ongoing debates in the United States over immigration, national security, and the legal limits of revoking citizenship from individuals accused of supporting or participating in terrorist activities.

Authorities have yet to release full details about the suspect or the investigation into the attack at Old Dominion University.

On Friday, SaharaReporters reported that there was an attack at Old Dominion University in Virginia, located in a military town.

The attacker, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS entered a classroom filled with Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students and opened fire.

According to the FBI, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is greater”, before shooting at students inside Constant Hall.

The classroom quickly descended into chaos as terrified students scrambled for safety.

However, several ROTC students bravely confronted the gunman and ultimately subdued him, preventing what authorities believe could have been a far deadlier massacre.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans praised the students for their quick action.

“Brave ROTC members in that room subdued him, and if not for them, I’m not sure what else he may have done,” Evans said.

During the attack, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor, was killed while two other individuals sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital.

Virginia Governor, Abigail Spanberger, described Shah as a dedicated military leader and mentor. (Sahara Reporters)