The Federal Government has dismissed as false and divisive recent claims by some international platforms and online commentators alleging that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Sunday, described the reports as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive,” stressing that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be reduced to a targeted religious campaign.
He said, “Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. Terrorists 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.
Between May 2023 and February 2025 alone, over 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralised and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued in multiple military operations across the country. Only last month, the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured in a well-coordinated counter-terrorism operation.”
The minister noted that Nigeria has secured over 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects in seven prosecution cycles, with the eighth cycle already underway.
He stressed that this demonstrated the administration’s resolve under President Bola Tinubu to bring terrorists and their sponsors to justice.
He added, “Nigeria is a multi-religious state with large populations of both Christians and Muslims. We are home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world, alongside some of the biggest Pentecostal churches and the largest Anglican congregation globally. Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalised in Nigeria.
“It is doubtful that foreign interlopers into Nigeria’s 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.
“In March this year, the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to two Nigerian religious leaders, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, for their decades-long work to promote trust and tolerance across faiths. Nigeria is not only exporting culture and music to the world—we are also exporting proven frameworks for interfaith harmony.”
The minister urged international media and commentators to act with responsibility.
“We call on all stakeholders to avoid ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality.”