By Muhammad Mamman
Government says report misrepresents security crisis, insists violence is criminal and insurgent-driven, not faith-based
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has firmly denied allegations by members of the United States Congress that Christians in the country are being systematically persecuted, describing the claims as “misleading” and “a mischaracterisation” of the nation’s complex security challenges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, officials in Abuja said the violence affecting parts of the country is not targeted at any single religious group but is largely driven by criminality, insurgency and communal conflicts.
The reaction follows remarks attributed to some US lawmakers who raised concerns over what they described as escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria, urging Washington to take a firmer stance.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has long grappled with armed insurgency in the northeast, banditry in the northwest and intercommunal clashes in the central region. The government maintains that these conflicts are rooted in terrorism, competition over land and resources, and organised crime – rather than a state-backed campaign against Christians.
“Suggesting that the Nigerian government is complicit in religious persecution is inaccurate and ignores the broader security realities on the ground,” a senior official said, noting that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of attacks.
Groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, have carried out mass-casualty attacks over the past decade, targeting churches, mosques, markets and security forces alike.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated its commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity. Officials pointed to ongoing military operations and community-based peacebuilding efforts aimed at curbing violence across affected regions.
Analysts say the debate reflects longstanding tensions in how Nigeria’s security crisis is interpreted internationally. While advocacy groups have argued that Christians, particularly in parts of the Middle Belt, face disproportionate attacks, Nigerian authorities insist that framing the crisis purely along religious lines oversimplifies a multifaceted conflict.
Diplomatic observers note that the exchange could test relations between Abuja and Washington, though both governments continue to cooperate on counterterrorism and regional security.
Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and government officials say they remain open to constructive engagement with international partners but reject what they describe as narratives that risk deepening divisions in an already fragile security environment.
