Samuel Omang
The federal government has dismissed United States President Donald Trump’s assertion that Nigeria is facing a “Christian genocide,” describing the allegation as unfounded and inconsistent with realities in the country.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claimed that “thousands of Christians” are being killed in Nigeria, blaming “radical Islamists” for what he called a mass slaughter of believers.
However, in a statement on Saturday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the remarks misrepresented Nigeria’s situation and overlooked the country’s ongoing efforts to promote unity and security.
“Nigerians of all faiths have lived, worked and worshipped together peacefully for generations,” Ebienfa said.
He stressed that while government welcomes international concern for human rights, the claims circulating abroad are “misleading” and fail to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu’s policies aimed at strengthening interfaith harmony and combating terrorism.
Ebienfa added that Nigeria will continue diplomatic engagements with Washington to “deepen mutual understanding” and clarify the country’s security and peace-building initiatives.
The remarks follow recent moves in the U.S. Congress, including a bill sponsored in September by Senator Ted Cruz seeking protections for “persecuted Christians” in Nigeria.
President Tinubu had spoken on the issue on September 30, describing accusations of religious genocide in Nigeria as “baseless,” insisting Nigeria’s foundation rests on “faith, resilience and unity.”
Last month, the Nigerian Senate established a 12-member ad-hoc committee to formulate a national position in response to rising international criticism over alleged religious persecution.