United States Special Envoy for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, on Friday, dismissed claims of an ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria, stating that terrorist attacks in the country have affected both Christians and Muslims.
Boulos, who is a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, stated this during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The US envoy spoke against the backdrop of growing calls by some American lawmakers urging the U.S. government to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.
But the White House has yet to issue any official response on the matter.
Boulos who addressed newsmen after his meeting with President Tinubu, said acts of terrorism in Nigeria cut across ethnic and religious lines.
He said, “Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe.
“People of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of terrorist acts. Boko Haram and ISIS have actually killed more Muslims than Christians. People are suffering from all backgrounds. This is not specifically targeted at one group or the other.”
The U.S. envoy added that Nigeria’s Middle Belt region had experienced violent clashes between farmers and herders, which sometimes involved Christian farming communities, but stressed that the conflict was not rooted in religion.
“It’s not something that can be said to target any particular religious group,” he said.
Boulos, who described Nigeria as a nation of diverse ethnic and religious groups, said both faiths share nearly equal population strength and have coexisted for decades.
“This has never been a serious religious issue and should not be,” he noted.
The US envoy also commended President Tinubu’s administration for recent security initiatives, which he said were beginning to yield positive results.
The Christian genocide narrative gained traction after the address of Vice- President Kashim Shettima at the last United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Shettima had said the situation in Gaza was “heart-wrenching” and demanded an immediate ceasefire that will birth Palestinians independence and a home of their own on territories already recognised by the UN and international law.
He said a two-state solution remains the most viable path to peace and warned that continued neglect of international law only fuelled propaganda and undermined global stability.
