The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, has dismissed allegations of targeted killings of Christians in the country as mischievous and an effort to pressure foreign governments—particularly the United States—into designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
In its Friday, March 14 statement bearing acting spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa’s signature, the ministry confirmed Nigeria’s persistent security challenges but asserted that such issues are not religious in nature.
“Although the Federal Government acknowledges the security issues in the country, such occurrences are not religiously motivated or against any religion group,” the statement read.
The ministry emphatically reiterated that insurgency and banditry, particularly in the predominantly Muslim north, are widespread criminal activities that do not focus on any religious group. These remarks come after the U.S. Congress continues to question religious freedom in Nigeria that has led to past CPC designations.
In spite of this, Nigeria has consistently argued that it dismissed claims of persecution on religious grounds, citing a complex security situation that had nothing to do with discrimination based on religion. The ministry reasserted Nigeria’s status as a multireligious and multiethnic country with a rich history of peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that the government is determined to secure all citizens, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or gender.
The statement confirmed that Nigeria’s security problems are products of broader problems such as terrorism, criminality, and communal conflict—specifically between farmers and herders. Climate change, population growth, and competition for land have exacerbated the tensions, but the ministry insisted that they do not represent systematic religious persecution.
To address these confrontations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government has ramped up security operations, including:
- Deployment of security agents to risk areas
- Enhancing intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation
- Engagement of communities in peace and reconciliation building
The ministry also cited recent military actions that have taken a big bite out of criminal gangs, noting that Nigeria is using a mix of military intervention and diplomacy to tackle insecurity at its roots. Conceding that conflicts over land are a leading reason for conflicts, the government has established a Ministry of Livestock Development and instituted a Special Adviser and Coordinator for Livestock Reforms to synchronize sustainable pastoral agriculture solutions.
This is aimed at reducing tension among farmers and herders along lines of land use. In addition, the Nigerian government also called on the international community to verify facts before making statements that could create tensions.
It urged foreign partners, the media, and civil society players to avoid spreading unconfirmed reports that risk undermining national harmony. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded by reiterating Nigeria’s adherence to religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony. While the government welcomes the offer of international support in addressing security issues, it resolutely rejects any attempt at misstating facts or sowing seeds of discord among Nigerians.
“Nigeria remains a beacon of religious coexistence and tolerance in Africa and will continue to uphold this tradition,” the statement reaffirmed.
