Federal Government, on Sunday, dismissed as false and misleading claims in some international circles suggesting that Christians in Nigeria are facing a systematic religious genocide.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement, said such allegations were “baseless, divisive, and a gross misrepresentation of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“There is no religious genocide in Nigeria. The violent activities of terrorist groups are not targeted at any particular religion or ethnic group. Both Muslims and Christians, and even those with no religious affiliation, have been victims of these criminals.”
The Minister stressed that presenting Nigeria’s security problems as a campaign against a single faith only serves the interests of terrorists, who seek to pit citizens against one another.
The government noted that significant progress had been made in the fight against insurgency.
It stated that between May 2023 and February 2025, over 13,500 terrorists were neutralised, nearly 10,000 hostages rescued, and the leadership of the al-Qaeda affiliate group, ANSARU, captured in a major military operation.
“These feats demonstrate that Nigeria is neither passive nor tolerant of terrorism. On the contrary, our security forces are determined and are recording successes every day,” Idris added.
The Minister also noted that Christianity is not endangered in Nigeria, pointing out that the country hosts some of the largest Christian congregations in the world.
“It is important to state that the heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force today are Christians. This underscores the inclusivity of our national leadership and the fact that no religion is marginalized in Nigeria,” he said.
The government further highlighted the prosecution of over 700 Boko Haram suspects through seven trial phases, with preparations underway for an eighth.
The Minister described Nigeria as a story of resilience and peaceful coexistence, not religious persecution, citing the March 2025 Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to Nigerian clerics, Rev. James Movel Wuye and Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa for their decades-long interfaith mediation work.
“We urge international commentators and media platforms to act responsibly, respect the facts, and avoid sensational narratives that undermine our national unity. Nigeria remains committed to protecting every citizen, regardless of faith or ethnicity,” the Minister said.
