Nigeria Rejects US Allegations Of Christian Persecution

Nigeria rejects US claims of Christian persecution, calling them misleading.
The government insists security challenges affect all citizens, not specific faiths.
US lawmakers push for Nigeria’s CPC designation despite government denials.

The Nigerian government has strongly denied allegations from the United States that Christians are being targeted in the country, dismissing the claims as an attempt to pressure foreign governments into designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, rejected the reports, stressing that the security crisis in Nigeria is driven by criminality, insurgency, and banditry rather than religious persecution.

The government described the allegations as misleading and aimed at distorting Nigeria’s security reality.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses strong concern over the misinformation regarding supposed targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria,” the statement read. “This narrative is being pushed to influence foreign governments, particularly the United States, to label Nigeria a CPC.”

The government’s response follows a U.S. congressional hearing by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, which cited a report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, claiming Nigeria accounts for 90% of Christians killed globally each year.

The report, which covered data from October 2019 to September 2023, stated that over 55,000 people had been killed, and 21,000 abducted by terrorist groups. The findings were echoed by Genocide Watch, which described Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians.”

U.S. lawmakers, including Representative Chris Smith, have called for Nigeria to be reinstated as a CPC, accusing the government of failing to protect Christian communities. Smith also criticized the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, arguing that religious persecution remains a critical issue.

However, the Nigerian government firmly rejected these claims, insisting that violence in the country affects all citizens, regardless of faith.

“Security challenges in Nigeria are not religiously motivated or targeted at a particular group,” the ministry stated, adding that insurgency and banditry in the northern region primarily affect Muslim communities as well.

The government highlighted ongoing military operations against insurgents and efforts to resolve communal conflicts, including clashes between farmers and herders. It also called on the international community to verify reports before making pronouncements that could escalate tensions.

“Nigeria remains a beacon of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Africa,” the statement added. “We welcome constructive dialogue but strongly reject any attempt to distort facts or sow division among our people.”

As international pressure mounts, the Nigerian government maintains that its security challenges are broad and not faith-based, reaffirming its commitment to protecting all citizens.