Nigeria rejects claims of targeted killings of christians, urges caution in reporting

By Kunle Sanni

The Nigerian government has dismissed allegations of targeted killings of Christians, describing such claims as misleading and inaccurate. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized reports suggesting that religious persecution is driving violence in the country, warning against misinformation that could escalate tensions.

According to the Ministry, these allegations are part of efforts to pressure foreign governments, particularly the United States, into designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over religious persecution. However, the government maintains that the country’s security challenges, including insurgency and banditry, are not religiously motivated but rather the result of broader socio-economic and security issues.

“The security issues in Nigeria are complex and multifaceted, manifesting as criminality, terrorism, and communal clashes—including farmer-herder conflicts—that do not have any religious connotation,” the statement read. While acknowledging the severity of the security crisis, the Ministry stressed that portraying the violence as faith-based is an oversimplification of a much deeper problem.

The government further explained that conflicts in northern Nigeria are not specifically aimed at any religious group. It attributed the violence to long-standing disputes over land and water resources, primarily between Fulani herders and Hausa farmers, both of whom are predominantly Muslim. These tensions, the government noted, have been worsened by climate change, population growth, and the spread of small arms in the region.

Despite these explanations, concerns persist within the international community. Western Post Online reported that the U.S. House of Representatives, citing data from Genocide Watch, claims that 52,000 Christians have been killed by Islamic extremists in Nigeria. These figures have fueled calls for Nigeria to be blacklisted for religious persecution, a move the Nigerian government strongly opposes.

In response, the Nigerian Embassy in the United States, in a statement signed by Ambassador Samson Itegnoje, rejected the perception that Christians are being systematically targeted. The Embassy argued that more Muslims than Christians have been killed in insurgency-related violence, as most attacks occur in predominantly Muslim regions. It urged stakeholders to consider the broader context rather than focusing on religious narratives.

The government also pointed to the role of criminal gangs, often referred to as “bandits” and “vigilantes,” who have worsened insecurity by engaging in cattle rustling, kidnappings, and attacks on traders and miners in the largely unregulated gold mining sector. Authorities insist that these crimes are driven by economic motives rather than religious extremism.

To address these challenges, the Nigerian government has launched a National Livestock Plan and established the Ministry of Livestock Development to resolve farmer-herder conflicts. In addition, President Bola Tinubu appointed Professor Attahiru Jega as Special Adviser and Coordinator of Livestock Reforms to implement lasting solutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community, media, and civil society organizations to verify facts before making statements that could inflame religious tensions.