The Minister cautioned that such narratives risk amplifying the agenda of violent groups seeking to sow religious tension between Christians and Muslims.
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has again dismissed claims by some foreign officials that Christians are being targeted in a religious genocide in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government claimed that such reports are misleading and fail to reflect the country’s complex security realities.
Speaking on CNN on Tuesday night, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, claimed that while Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, it remains a nation deeply committed to religious freedom and coexistence.
“Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians,” Idris said.
“Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They also target Muslims. We have seen that especially in the northern part of the country.”
The Minister cautioned that such narratives risk amplifying the agenda of violent groups seeking to sow religious tension between Christians and Muslims.
“Characterizing these attacks as being directed solely at Christians will drive Nigeria towards division,” he warned.
“The criminals want to portray the country as if there is a fight between Christians and Muslims.”
Idris claimed that Nigeria remains a tolerant nation where freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Constitution.
“It is wrong to characterize Nigeria as a country that does not tolerate religious freedom, and it’s also wrong to say that everywhere is unsafe. Nigeria is indeed a safe country,” he stated.
The Minister claimed that the administration of President Tinubu is giving renewed attention to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens.
“Yes, we have security challenges, but there is a massive drive by the government to make Nigeria ultimately safe for everyone,” Idris said.
He pointed out that the country has been confronting terrorism and banditry since 2009, but that in the past two years, the government has demonstrated greater determination to eliminate these threats.
“In the last two years, there has been a renewed focus and attention to ensure that Nigeria becomes safe.
“We have seen a massive deployment of resources to improve our military hardware and investments in sectors such as agriculture and social services to strengthen the non-kinetic approach to stability,” he added.
The Minister also noted that the recent reshuffling of service chiefs reflects Tinubu’s commitment to fortifying the nation’s security architecture.
“Even the recent changes in the service chiefs are geared towards strengthening our response capabilities and ensuring that the government meets every security challenge decisively,” he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced persistent insecurity over the past decade, primarily from Islamist insurgents in the northeast, armed bandits in the northwest and north central, and separatist movements in the southeast.
These crises have often been mischaracterized abroad as religious conflicts, though analysts note that economic, ethnic, and political factors frequently overlap with religious identities.
Successive Nigerian governments have rejected allegations of systematic religious persecution, arguing that both Muslims and Christians have suffered attacks from violent non-state actors.
President Tinubu’s administration, since assuming office in May 2023, has pledged to reform the security sector, increase military spending, and promote national unity across religious and ethnic lines.
The Minister’s remarks come amid renewed international scrutiny following recent U.S. congressional debates and human rights reports alleging religiously motivated killings in parts of northern Nigeria.
Idris urged international partners to rely on verified data and collaborate with Nigeria in addressing shared security concerns rather than amplifying divisive narratives.
