NIGERIA BLASTS ‘FALSE’ CLAIMS OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE; TERRORISTS TARGET EVERYONE!
FG Fires Back at Global Accusations
The Federal Government (FG) has strongly condemned and categorically refuted claims circulating on international platforms that terrorists in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, labelled the allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.” He warned that portraying Nigeria’s security crisis as a targeted campaign against a single faith grossly misrepresents reality and “plays into the hands of terrorists” seeking to divide Nigerians along religious lines.
Terror Targets Are Not Religious
The Minister stressed that the violence is not confined to any specific religious or ethnic community.
Muslims, Christians, and those with no religious affiliation have all suffered at the hands of the criminals.
Terrorist groups are simply targeting “all who reject their murderous ideology.”
Major Wins Against Terrorists Unveiled
Idris highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to securing the nation, citing major successes:
13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralized between May 2023 and February 2025.
Nearly 10,000 hostages were rescued in numerous military operations nationwide.
Just last month, the top leadership of ANSARU, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured. This included Mahmud Muhammad Usman (self-styled Emir of ANSARU) and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri.
These successes, the Minister noted, expose as unfounded the idea that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism.
Inclusivity and Accountability
The Minister emphasized Nigeria’s diverse nature and inclusive leadership:
Nigeria is a multi-religious state with some of the largest Muslim communities and the biggest Christian congregations globally.
Christianity is “neither endangered nor marginalized.”
The current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians, underscoring the inclusivity of national leadership.
Security forces are also being held accountable, with court martials and prosecutions held for officials found guilty of misconduct.
Conviction Record and Peace Example
Nigeria has made significant strides in prosecuting terror suspects:
Seven batches of Boko Haram suspects have been successfully prosecuted.
Over 700 convictions have been secured so far.
The Minister concluded that the Nigerian story is one of “resilience, diversity, and a globally acknowledged commitment to peaceful coexistence.” He cited the awarding of the inaugural
Commonwealth Peace Prize to two Nigerian religious leaders, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, as proof that Nigeria is “exporting proven frameworks for interfaith harmony” to the world.
The FG urged internationa l media and commentators to “act with responsibility” and avoid “sensationalism and divisive rhetoric.”
