Terror Attacks Do Not Target Any Religion, ECOWAS Insists

The Economic Community of West African States has angrily rejected claims that any religious group is being subjected to genocide across the region, branding the allegations a deliberate attempt to sow discord.

In a strongly worded communique released late on Tuesday, the regional bloc said the accusations were aimed at worsening insecurity and weakening social cohesion among West African nations. “Perpetrators of this violence target innocent civilians of all religious denominations including Muslims, Christians, and adherents to other religions,” ECOWAS wrote on its X handle. “As independent reports have confirmed over the years, terrorist-related violence does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or age.”

ECOWAS urged the United Nations and international partners to back member states in their fight against extremist groups and to dismiss as false any suggestion that terrorist actors single out a particular faith. “ECOWAS strongly rejects these false and dangerous claims that seek to deepen insecurity in communities and weaken social cohesion in the region,” the statement added. “ECOWAS calls on the whole world to stand by the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism that targets all communities.”

The declaration comes after former US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged anti-Christian violence and threatened military action if the government failed to act. On Truth Social, Mr Trump warned: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

The Federal Government has rejected the genocide claims and said it remains committed to protecting religious freedom and tackling militant violence across the country.