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FG Faults Religious Genocide Claims, Says Terrorists Target All Nigerians, Not Only Christians
The Nigerian Government has dismissed reports suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing such claims as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is “a gross misrepresentation of reality.”
“While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful. It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines,” the statement read.
The minister stressed that terrorist groups target people of all faiths.
“The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. 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,” he said.
According to the government, security forces have made significant gains against terrorists.
“Between May 2023 and February 2025 alone, over 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralized and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued in multiple military operations across the country,” the statement noted.
Idris highlighted the recent capture of top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, naming Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the group’s self-styled Emir, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), his deputy, among those arrested.
“These feats underscore the determination and success of our security forces and expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism,” Idris said.
The statement also emphasized that Nigeria is a multi-religious country where both Islam and Christianity thrive.
“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,” it said.
On accountability, the government noted that the Armed Forces and Police have conducted court martials and prosecutions to punish misconduct, stressing that discipline and the rule of law remain priorities within the security agencies.
Idris further pointed to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to prosecute Boko Haram suspects.
“To date, we have successfully prosecuted seven batches of suspects, securing over 700 convictions. We are currently moving into our eighth prosecution cycle, further demonstrating our resolve to tackle terrorism and its sponsors,” he said.
The minister added that under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the administration remains “steadfast in its commitment to upholding justice and enhancing security.”
Underscoring Nigeria’s contribution to global peace, the statement recalled that in March 2025, the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to two Nigerian religious leaders, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, for their decades-long work promoting interfaith harmony.
“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,” Idris said.
He urged the international media and commentators to “act with responsibility and have respect for facts,” warning against “ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric.”
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