The federal government has rejected allegations that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing such claims as false, misleading, and harmful to national unity.
In a statement on Sunday, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a “gross misrepresentation of reality.”
“The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians. Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive,” the statement read.
Idris stressed that extremist groups have attacked Nigerians of all faiths and backgrounds.
“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.
The minister highlighted progress made in counter-terrorism operations, noting that between May 2023 and February 2025, security forces killed 13,543 terrorists and criminals while rescuing nearly 10,000 hostages nationwide.
He further recalled the recent capture of the leadership of Ansaru, a Nigerian affiliate of al-Qaeda, and revealed that the government has secured over 700 convictions in the prosecution of Boko Haram suspects across seven batches of trials.
‘Christians Not Endangered or Marginalised’
Idris dismissed the genocide narrative as a distortion of Nigeria’s multi-religious reality, stressing that Christians are not endangered in the country.
“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,” he said.
The minister also pointed to global recognition of Nigeria’s interfaith efforts, recalling that in March, the Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to Rev. James Movel Wuye and Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre.
Idris urged foreign commentators to avoid sensationalism and instead support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“All stakeholders are advised to avoid ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality,” he concluded.
