The Federal Government and former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, have both rejected claims of a religious genocide targeting Christians in Nigeria, insisting that terrorists attack victims across faiths and ethnic groups.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government described such allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
The government’s response followed reports by international media outlets and online commentators alleging that Christian communities were being systematically targeted in what they termed a “religious genocide.”
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” Idris said.
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He explained that while Nigeria had experienced security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, “couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful.”
According to Idris, terrorists and bandits in Nigeria target everyone who rejects their ideology, regardless of faith.
“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands,” he added.
The minister said the Federal Government had recorded significant progress in counter-terrorism operations, revealing that between May 2023 and February 2025, over 13,500 terrorists and criminals were neutralised, while nearly 10,000 hostages were rescued.
He cited the capture of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) leaders as an example of recent military successes.
“Only last month, the top leadership of ANSARU was captured in a well-coordinated counter-terrorism operation,” Idris noted.
“They are: Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU; and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda, his proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy,” he said.
Idris stressed that the government’s counter-terrorism efforts were non-discriminatory and had the support of a diverse national security leadership.
“It is doubtful that foreign interlopers into Nigeria’s affairs are aware that the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians, a fact that underscores the inclusivity of our national leadership,” the minister said.
He added that the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police Force had maintained high standards of accountability, having conducted several court martials and prosecutions for misconduct.
“To date, we have successfully prosecuted seven batches of suspects, securing over 700 convictions. We are currently moving into our eighth prosecution cycle,” Idris said.
He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to national security and justice, assuring Nigerians that “those who threaten the nation’s peace and stability will be brought to justice.”
Idris highlighted Nigeria’s long tradition of religious coexistence, noting that the country is home to some of the largest Muslim and Christian populations in the world.
“Nigeria is a multi-religious state with large populations of both Christians and Muslims. Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalised in Nigeria,” he stated.
He cited the recent recognition of Nigerian religious leaders, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, who jointly received the Commonwealth Peace Prize for their interfaith work.
“In March this year, the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize was awarded to these two Nigerian leaders for their decades-long effort to promote tolerance and peace,” Idris said.
Meanwhile, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, also dismissed the claims of a “Christian genocide,” saying the terrorists kill both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Sani said, “Bandits and terrorists in Nigeria don’t discriminate between Muslims and Christians in their evil and murderous acts.”
“They attack churches and kill priests, pastors and Christian worshippers; they attack mosques and kill Imams and Muslim worshippers,” he added.
According to Sani, the terrorists’ victims include “people from all faiths and ethnic groups,” and most of those affected in northern states are Muslims.
“Their kidnapping and rape victims cut across all faiths and ethnic groups. Most of their victims are actually Muslims, going by the states they mostly operate. All facts are on the internet,” he wrote.
The Federal Government’s response and Sani’s statement come amid renewed debate on religious freedom in Nigeria, following international reports suggesting targeted persecution.
In March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also dismissed similar claims of targeted killings of Christians, describing them as misleading and aimed at influencing foreign governments.
Idris concluded by urging international media and commentators to “act with responsibility and respect for facts,” calling for support in the collective fight against terrorism and criminality.
“We urge the international media and other commentators to avoid ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality,” he said.
