The Federal Government yesterday dismissed claims of systemic religious persecution in Nigeria, alleging that foreign lobbyists, particularly in the United States, are driving claims of Christian genocide in the country and influencing international perceptions of the country’s security challenges.
It also, as response to claims that it was not doing enough to fight terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country, said no fewer than 13,500 terrorists had so far been killed, with 17,000 suspects arrested.
This is even as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, wrote the US President, Donald Trump, refuting claims of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, insisting that such accusations do not reflect realities in the country.
But US senator, Ted Cruz, who had been in the forefront of campaign against Christian killings in the country, has vowed to release names of government officials involved in persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Similarly, a member of the US House of Representatives, Riley Moore, late Tuesday, slammed the Chinese government over its reaction to President Trump’s plan to take military action on Nigeria, saying China had no right to dictate America’s foreign policy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who dismissed claims of religious persecution in Nigeria, told members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja yesterday that Nigeria remains a secular democracy where citizens of all faiths co-exist peacefully.
Tuggar, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, said: “Recent external claims suggesting systemic religious persecution in Nigeria are unfounded, inaccurate, and fail to reflect the reality of our pluralistic and tolerant society.
‘’Nigeria’s secular nature remains deeply embedded in both our Constitution and national ethos, guaranteeing freedom of religion and belief to every citizen.”
He explained that such narratives often stemmed from misinterpretation of isolated incidents, rather than any state-sanctioned discrimination.
The minister urged international observers and partners to engage constructively with verified data and credible local institutions before drawing conclusions about Nigeria’s internal affairs.
Tuggar reaffirmed that Nigeria remains an inclusive democracy where Christians and Muslims hold leadership positions across all levels, adding that religious diversity continue to strengthen the nation’s unity.
He also highlighted the roles of inter-faith bodies such as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC; Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, in fostering dialogue and mutual respect among faith communities.
“The Nigerian state is secular in both structure and function. Policies and institutions operate without religious bias, ensuring that Christians and Muslims hold leadership positions across all levels.
‘’The recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, based on speculations of religious persecution, is fundamentally misinformed,’’ Tuggar said.
On national security, he said: “The Tinubu administration has adopted a comprehensive approach, combining military strength, intelligence, diplomacy, and community engagement.
‘’Sustained operations, such as Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Lake Sanity, have degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP, reclaimed vast territories and facilitated the return of millions of displaced persons.”
The minister reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees complete freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, assuring that the government will continue to promote inter-faith harmony and national cohesion.
We’ve killed 13,500 terrorists, arrested 17,000 suspects —FG
At a separate briefing in Abuja with the presidential media team, also yesterday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, spoke of the strident efforts the Federal Government had been making to tackle terrorism and make the country safer for its citizens, irrespective of religious creed.
He said government had also taken note of the concerns raised by the U.S President, Donald Trump, over killing of Christians in Nigeria which, it claimed, was borne out of misreading and misjudging the reality of Nigeria’s true security situation by Trump.
Idris said contrary to the U.S position, Nigeria faces long-standing security challenges that had impacted Christians and Muslims alike, pointing out that there is no deliberate effort by government to single out a particular religion for genocide.
The minister said that due to its determination to tackle terrorism and other security challenges, security agencies under the Tinubu administration, had so far killed 13,500 terrorists, arrested no fewer than 17,000 suspected terrorists and freed 9,800 victims since coming to power in 2023.
He said: “It is important to restate that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group. As in many parts of the world, extremism is mindless, blind to religion, tribe, or class. It is a war against all peace-loving Nigerians and against the unity and progress of our great nation.
“Therefore, any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian state is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformation or faulty data. Several leading personnel of the very dedicated Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country’s intelligence agencies are Christians, working and succeeding alongside their Muslim colleagues in the fight against extremists and criminals waging war against our country and values.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more than determined to confront and end these security challenges. Since May 2023 when he assumed office, Nigeria’s security agencies have neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations and arrested over 17,000 suspects, who are now undergoing interrogation or prosecution for various offences.
“Also, more than 9,800 victims abducted by terrorist elements, including women and children, have been rescued and reintegrated.
“The recent change in service chiefs and the subsequent realignment within the armed forces and security agencies reflect President Tinubu’s determination to reinvigorate Nigeria’s security architecture. This strategic overhaul is designed to infuse fresh energy, innovation and accountability into our national defence and intelligence systems.
“The mission is to deliver better results, strengthen coordination among the services, and stamp out terrorism and violent crime in every part of Nigeria. The President’s directive is unequivocal, that every inch of Nigerian territory must be secured, and every citizen must live free from fear.
“Our military and other security agencies are winning the war on terrorism and the results in the past years and, especially, in the last two years of President Tinubu’s leadership are real and remarkable.
‘’We have made stringent efforts in curtailing access to small arms and light weapons by non-state actors. Security agencies recovered and destroyed over 5,000 military-grade rifles and intercepted over 20 gun-running networks in the past months.
“In the past two years, significant progress has been made in the war against terrorism across the North-West, North-East and South-East, North-Central, and other parts of our country. Within this period, the number of terrorism-related attacks has plummeted.
‘’In March, a report by the Global Terrorism Index indicated that terrorist attacks were at their lowest in over a decade in Nigeria.
“In the past eight months, the Nigerian military neutralised over 592 terrorists in Borno State alone. Over 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals have been neutralised. More than 17,000 arrests made. Over 11,200 hostages freed. More importantly, over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered, handing over more than 11,000 weapons.
“In the North-West, especially Zamfara and Kaduna, 11,250 hostages have been freed, and some of the terror leaders, including Ali Kachala, Boderi, Halilu Sububu, have been neutralised. In August, the military intercepted and killed, in one fell swoop, over 400 armed bandits who had converged to attack a village in Zamfara.
“Two terrorism suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba, who are wanted internationally, are currently undergoing prosecution. The two, who are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation in July.
“Their arrest marked a turning point in our ongoing operations against terrorism. Usman, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also believed to have masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and robberies, the proceeds of which were used to finance terrorism over the years.
‘’Abba, Usman’s chief of staff and deputy, is alleged to have led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around the Kainji National Park, located on the border between the states of Niger and Kwara, as well as the Republic of Benin.
“Another terror suspect, Khalid Al Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured, is also facing prosecution.
“Captured in 2016, Al Barnawi is facing trial along with four other terror suspects – Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.
“We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law. The federal government will not recline until the remnants of these hounds of death are permanently removed.
“The government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal — the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil.’’
Credit: Vanguard News Nigeria