The Nigerian government has denied allegations that Christians are being specifically targeted by banditry and insurgency in the North-East and North-West regions of the country.
Recent reports suggested that the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa had authorized President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria over alleged widespread killings of Christians and rising religious violence.
The decision followed a congressional hearing on Wednesday, during which U.S. lawmakers criticized the Nigerian government for its perceived failure to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.
Citing a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, the committee noted that Nigerians accounted for 90 percent of all Christians killed globally each year.
However, in a statement released on Friday, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed these reports, insisting that there were no targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry’s Acting Spokesperson, described the allegations as part of a misleading effort to pressure foreign governments into designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over violence against Christians.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to express strong concern over the recent wave of misinformation and misleading reports regarding the supposed targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria,” the statement read.
“The unfortunate development is intended to influence foreign governments, especially the United States Government, to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, due to the violence against Christians.
“While the Federal Government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group.
“It should be noted that the majority of incidents relating to insurgency and banditry that occur in the predominantly Muslim northern part of Nigeria are not targeted at followers of a particular faith or religion. Any narrative that seeks to give such incidents a colouration of religious persecution is erroneous and misleading.”
The ministry reaffirmed that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation and assured that the government remains committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.
Ebienfa emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle security threats, including military operations against insurgents and bandits, as well as initiatives to address communal conflicts, such as disputes between farmers and herders.
“The government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken significant steps to address these security concerns, including the deployment of security forces, intelligence gathering, and community engagement initiatives.
“Indeed, the military has recorded substantial gains in curtailing the activities of bandits and insurgents.
“To bring an end to such security challenges, both the federal and state authorities have embarked on kinetic and non-kinetic methods and expedited the implementation of the national livestock plan,” the statement noted.
The government also urged the international community to verify information before making statements that could heighten tensions in Nigeria.
Additionally, it called on media organizations, civil society groups, and foreign partners to refrain from spreading unverified claims, emphasizing the importance of national unity and stability.
