FG Denies Claims of Religious Genocide, Calls Accusations “Baseless and Divisive”

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has issued a forceful rebuttal to what it describes as “false, baseless, and despicable” allegations from international platforms and online influencers that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians.

In a strongly-worded press statement released on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, condemned the claims as a “gross misrepresentation of reality” that plays into the hands of terrorists seeking to divide the nation.

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is inaccurate and harmful,” the statement read. It emphasized that the violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any one community, but target “all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith.”

The government underscored its commitment to securing all citizens, pointing to recent military successes as proof of its resolve. Officials revealed that between May 2023 and February 2025, security forces neutralized over 13,543 terrorists and criminals and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages.

A significant recent victory highlighted was the capture of the top leadership of ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, in a well-coordinated operation. The group’s self-styled Emir, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, and his Chief of Staff, Mahmud al-Nigeri, are now in custody.

“These feats underscore the determination and success of our security forces and expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism,” the statement asserted.

To bolster its argument for national inclusivity, the government noted that the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians. It also detailed progress in the judicial fight against terrorism, announcing over 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects to date, with an eighth prosecution cycle underway.

Pushing back against a narrative of religious persecution, the statement portrayed Nigeria as a model of interfaith harmony. It cited the awarding of the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize in March 2025 to two Nigerian religious leaders—Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa—for their decades of work in mediation.

“Nigeria is not only exporting culture and music to the world—we are also exporting proven frameworks for interfaith harmony,” Minister Idris stated.

The Federal Government concluded by urging international media and commentators to “act with responsibility and have respect for facts,” calling for support in its ongoing fight against terrorism rather than what it views as sensational and divisive rhetoric.