Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed claims by some United States lawmakers alleging a “Christian g+nocide” in Nigeria, describing them as based on faulty and misleading data.
In an interview with CNN, Idris said the claims do not accurately reflect Nigeria’s complex security realities. According to a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister explained that vi%lent att+cks in the country are not driven by religion.
“Yes, there are Christians being att+cked, but these criminals also target Muslims, especially in the northern region,” he said.
Idris was responding to calls by some US legislators urging the US Secretary of State to sanction Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. He rejected the claim, stressing that Nigeria upholds religious freedom, human rights, and democracy, as guaranteed by its Constitution.
The minister warned that framing Nigeria’s insecurity as a religious c%nflict could fuel division and strengthen the agenda of criminals seeking to inflame tensions. “Portraying the situation as Christians versus Muslims is dangerous and inaccurate,” he cautioned.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, Idris noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has intensified efforts and invested heavily in combating terr%rism, b+nditry, and other vi%lent crimes.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a tolerant and diverse nation, urging international partners to rely on verified information when assessing the country’s internal situation.
