FG Refutes Allegations of Religious Genocide in Nigeria

Abuja, The Federal Government has strongly dismissed reports by some international platforms and online commentators alleging that Nigeria is witnessing a systematic genocide against Christians.

In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described such claims as false, baseless, divisive and misleading.

According to the minister, Nigeria’s security challenges, like those faced by many countries, are complex and multifaceted. He said portraying terrorist activities as a targeted campaign against a single religious group oversimplifies the situation and plays into the hands of criminals who thrive on sowing division.

“Terrorist groups attack indiscriminately,” Idris stressed. “Muslims, Christians, and even those without any religious affiliation have all been victims of their violence.”

Highlighting recent military successes, the minister disclosed that between May 2023 and February 2025, more than 13,500 terrorists were neutralized and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued across various operations. Just last month, top leaders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, were captured in a coordinated operation.

Idris added that over 700 Boko Haram suspects have so far been convicted, with the eighth batch of prosecutions currently underway. He also emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to accountability, citing ongoing court martials for security operatives found guilty of misconduct.

Underscoring Nigeria’s diversity, the minister pointed out that the country is home to some of the largest Muslim and Christian communities in the world, with Christians occupying key national leadership positions, including the heads of the Armed Forces and the Police.

He noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, government remains committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen regardless of faith or ethnicity.

“The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide,” Idris said. “It is a story of resilience, diversity, and peaceful coexistence.”

He recalled that earlier this year, the Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to two Nigerian interfaith leaders, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, whose decades of peacebuilding now serve as a model across 56 Commonwealth nations.

The minister urged international media and commentators to avoid sensationalism and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism and criminality.