- U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has alleged that Bailor Jalloh, the gunman who attacked Old Dominion University (ODU), had prior meetings with the Islamic State (ISIL) in Nigeria.
- The attack, which occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026, targeted a classroom of ROTC students, resulting in the death of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and injuries to two others.
- Senator Moore is now introducing legislation to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen found aiding or abetting terrorist activities against the United States.
A chilling connection to Nigerian insurgent networks has emerged in the wake of a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia.
Eko Hot Blog reports that on Saturday, March 14, 2026, U.S. Representative Riley Moore claimed that the suspect, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted ISIS supporter had traveled to Nigeria to meet with high-level members of the Islamic State (ISIL) before carrying out the domestic attack.
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The shooting took place inside Constant Hall on the ODU campus. According to the FBI, Jalloh entered an ROTC classroom, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and opened fire.
The incident claimed the life of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a respected military mentor, and left two others wounded.
Authorities credited the bravery of several ROTC students who physically subdued the gunman, preventing a significantly higher death toll.
Senator Moore’s allegations have sparked a firestorm in Washington D.C., specifically regarding Jalloh’s prior legal history. Jalloh had previously been imprisoned for terrorism-related offenses but was released early.
Moore described the decision to release a known extremist who had “sought to aid and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland” as “insane” and a massive failure of national security.
In direct response, Moore announced plans to introduce a bill that would allow the federal government to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens who participate in or support terrorism.
“This must end,” Moore stated, emphasizing that deportation should be the immediate consequence for naturalized citizens who turn to radicalism.
The Nigerian link is particularly significant for regional security experts. If confirmed, Jalloh’s meeting with ISIL operatives in Nigeria suggests a strengthening bridge between domestic extremists in the West and established terror franchises in West Africa.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of Lt. Col. Shah, while the FBI continues to investigate Jalloh’s travel history and digital footprint.
The attack comes at a time of heightened global tension, with U.S. intelligence agencies already stretched thin by ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East.
For the families at Old Dominion and the Nigerian intelligence community, the revelation of a direct link between a Virginia classroom and Nigerian extremist cells adds a complex and terrifying layer to the fight against global radicalization.
