The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected allegations that Christians are being deliberately targeted in a wave of religious killings, warning that such claims could inflame tensions and misrepresent the country’s complex security challenges.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Ministry dismissed reports of religious persecution as “erroneous and misleading.” It emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by broader issues such as insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts.
“The majority of insurgency and banditry-related incidents in the predominantly Muslim northern region are not directed at any specific religious group. Framing these incidents as religious persecution is misleading.”
The ministry’s remarks come amid concerns that such reports could influence foreign governments, particularly the United States, to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to alleged religious violence.
The statement acknowledged Nigeria’s security difficulties but stressed that authorities have been taking significant steps to curb violence. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the government has increased the deployment of security forces, improved intelligence gathering, and engaged local communities to address insecurity.
“The military has recorded substantial progress in curtailing the activities of bandits and insurgents,” the statement noted.
One of the government’s key initiatives includes the establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Development and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Livestock Reforms to manage land disputes between farmers and pastoralists—an issue often at the heart of violent communal clashes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged foreign governments, media outlets, and civil society organizations to verify information before making statements that could escalate tensions.
“We call on all stakeholders to refrain from disseminating unverified claims that could undermine national unity and stability,”
Despite its security challenges, the Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless of religious or ethnic background. “Nigeria remains a beacon of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Africa,” the statement concluded.
