U.S. Envoy Refutes Claims of Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, has dismissed allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, stating that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram have in fact killed more Muslims than Christians.

Boulos made the remarks during an interview on Friday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the 2025 Aqaba Process Summit in Rome, Italy. The summit, hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, focuses on strengthening regional cooperation to address insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel.

Describing terrorism as a global challenge without ethnic or religious boundaries, Boulos said: “Terrorism has no colour or religion. People of all faiths and tribes are victims of terrorist violence. It is not targeted at one particular group.”

He noted that Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed more Muslims than Christians, stressing that the tragedy of terrorism affects Nigerians of all backgrounds.

“Those familiar with the realities on the ground understand that terrorism is not about religion or tribe. It’s about extremism and the suffering of innocent people,” he said.

His comments come amid calls by some U.S. lawmakers urging Washington to impose sanctions on Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians and to classify the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).

While acknowledging that Nigeria’s North Central region has recorded numerous attacks resulting in Christian casualties, Boulos insisted that the violence was not targeted at any single religious group.

“Any loss of life is one too many,” he added, emphasizing the need for stronger U.S.-Nigeria cooperation to tackle terrorism and protect civilian lives.

Boulos commended recent security reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, saying they are beginning to yield positive results. He described Nigeria as a “melting pot of ethnicities and religions,” and reaffirmed U.S. support for the country’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

The Aqaba Process Summit brought together African, Middle Eastern, and European leaders, including heads of state, defence ministers, and security experts, to discuss collaborative strategies for improving regional and global security.