NIGERIA: FG Refutes Claims Of Religious Genocide In Nigeria

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Federal Government has strongly dismissed allegations circulating on international platforms and social media that terrorists in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the claims as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive,” insisting they misrepresent Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

The statement reads: “Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.”

The government stressed that violent extremism in Nigeria is not confined to any religion or ethnic group. It cited recent military successes, including the neutralisation of 13,543 terrorists and criminals and the rescue of nearly 10,000 hostages between May 2023 and February 2025.

Idris also noted that last month, the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured in a coordinated counter-terrorism operation.

He said: “These feats expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism.”

The statement highlighted ongoing accountability measures within the Armed Forces and Police through court martials and prosecutions, adding that Nigeria has successfully prosecuted over 700 Boko Haram suspects across seven trial batches, with the eighth cycle now underway.

Underscoring Nigeria’s religious diversity, Idris pointed out that the country is home to some of the world’s largest Christian and Muslim communities.

He noted: “Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalized in Nigeria. It is doubtful that foreign interlopers into Nigerian affairs are aware that the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians, a fact that underscores the inclusivity of our national leadership.”

The Minister further emphasized that Nigeria is being recognized internationally for its interfaith harmony efforts. He cited the March 2025 Commonwealth Peace Prize, awarded to Nigerian clerics Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre.

Concluding, Idris urged foreign commentators to avoid sensationalism and divisive rhetoric.

“The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide or persecution. Rather, it is a story of resilience, diversity, and a globally acknowledged commitment to peaceful coexistence,” he said.