Abuja, September 28, 2025 — The Federal Government has strongly dismissed claims circulating on some international platforms and social media suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive,” insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges should not be mischaracterized as an assault on a single faith.
According to him, “Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. 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.”
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts are yielding results, citing the neutralization of 13,543 terrorists and criminals as well as the rescue of nearly 10,000 hostages between May 2023 and February 2025. He also announced the recent capture of two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria—Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri.
“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,” Idris said.
The statement further highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in prosecuting terrorism cases, with over 700 convictions secured across seven batches of Boko Haram suspects, and preparations already underway for an eighth prosecution cycle.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s multi-religious identity, Idris noted that the country is home to some of the world’s largest Muslim and Christian congregations and stressed that Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalized. He pointed out that both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police are Christians, underscoring inclusivity in national leadership.
The Minister also drew attention to Nigeria’s global reputation for interfaith peacebuilding, recalling that in March, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, received the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize for their decades-long work fostering Christian-Muslim harmony.
“The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide or persecution. Rather, it is a story of resilience, diversity, and a globally acknowledged commitment to peaceful coexistence,” Idris affirmed.
He urged international media and commentators to avoid sensationalism and divisive rhetoric, and instead support Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism and criminality
