Nigeria insists insecurity driven by terrorism, not state policy
The federal government has rejected claims by members of the United States Congress that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, insisting there is no state-backed religious bias in the country’s security challenges.
Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement on Tuesday that allegations of systematic persecution were unfounded.
“It is important to state clearly that Nigeria does not have, and has never had, a state policy of religious persecution,” he said.
According to the minister, the violence confronting parts of the country is rooted in complex security threats rather than any official agenda targeting a particular faith group.
“The violence being confronted by our security agencies is not driven by government policy or religious bias, but by complex security threats, including terrorism, organised criminality, and longstanding communal tensions,” Idris added.
The response follows a report formally submitted on Monday by the US House committees on appropriations and foreign affairs to the White House. The report outlines findings and recommendations on what US lawmakers described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The submission comes after US president Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues. He subsequently directed Congressman Riley Moore and the chairman of the House appropriations committee, Tom Cole, to lead a comprehensive investigation into reported attacks on Christian communities by terrorists, alongside broader security challenges in the country.
Moore said the US team now had what he described as a clearer understanding of the security threats facing Nigeria and the alleged persecution of Christians. He urged Abuja to use the moment to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Washington.
Abuja, however, maintained that while Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, its constitutional framework guarantees equal rights to all citizens regardless of faith.
The government stressed that the constitution of the federal republic guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all Nigerians, and pledged continued commitment to upholding those protections.
It added that efforts were ongoing to enhance humanitarian support for internally displaced persons, facilitate the safe return of affected communities, and promote community-based peacebuilding initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable coexistence across religious and ethnic divides.