The Federal Government has refuted allegations that Christians are being targeted and killed in Nigeria, describing the claims as “ignorant, false, and baseless.”
The response followed a statement by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who accused Nigeria’s government of enabling a “massacre” against Christians and introducing a bill to sanction Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in such acts.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday in a statement emphasised that no Nigerian official or institution supports or colludes with violent extremists in any form.
“This is not true. This is not the reflection of what is on the ground. I mean it’s false where you say over 20,000 churches have been burned. It’s also false if you say 52,000 (Christians killed).
“Where did he get those numbers from? I think this is absolutely absurd. It’s not supported by any facts whatsoever. The Nigerian government rejects that, ” he said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and coexistence, stating that the country is a multi-faith society where citizens of all religions coexist peacefully.
Idris questioned the accuracy of the numbers cited by Cruz, including claims of over 20,000 churches burned and 52,000 Christians killed.
He described these claims as “absurd” and not supported by facts.
The minister acknowledged the challenges of violent extremism that affect all Nigerians, regardless of faith, and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting every Nigerian without discrimination.
“It’s unfortunate, sadly, that some of these extremists have killed a number of Christians and a number of Muslims almost everywhere where this violent extremism has support. So, it’s not true.
“We find that to be very unfortunate. It’s despicable, it’s not right.
”This is absolutely false to say that there is a calculated or a deliberate attempt to kill a particular religious group; it’s not correct, and we find that really very, very unfortunate, ” he said.
The Federal Government assured citizens and the international community that the security forces remained committed to combating terrorism and banditry in all forms.
The government emphasised its dedication to ensuring religious freedom and promoting national unity.
The House of Representatives has also condemned a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress alleging religious killings in Nigeria, describing it as “false and divisive.”
The House has mandated relevant government agencies to compile and transmit empirical evidence countering the claims made in the U.S. bill.
