The House of Representatives has dismissed claims suggesting that Nigeria’s security challenges are “religiously motivated or state-sponsored.”
This stance was taken in response to a bill introduced in the United States Congress on March 11, 2025, which seeks to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for allegedly engaging in, and tolerating, systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
In reaction, the House directed relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to gather and present verifiable evidence that disproves the allegations contained in the U.S. bill.
The resolution stemmed from a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, which received unanimous support from lawmakers.
Members of the House argued that Nigeria is not experiencing a religious crisis and emphasized the importance of swift diplomatic engagement to prevent the U.S. Congress from advancing the proposed bill.
Two weeks earlier, the Federal Government had also rejected claims that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing such allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
In a statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated that portraying Nigeria’s security issues as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross distortion of reality.
“The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians,” the statement reads.
“Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality.
“While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful.
“It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.”
The minister further noted that extremists have targeted Nigerians of all faiths and commended the military for its ongoing efforts and progress in the fight against terrorism.