Keypoints:
- Nigeria says no genocide against Christians
- Trump cites killings, vows special designation
- Abuja says relations with US remain unchanged
THE Nigerian government has rejected a claim by US President Donald Trump that Christianity faces an ‘existential threat’ in the country, describing the assertion as baseless and misleading.
Trump announced on Friday that Washington would designate Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’, citing alleged killings of thousands of Christians. However, he offered no evidence to support the claim or clarify its source.
The move marks a striking reversal of position within Trump’s administration. Just two weeks earlier, his senior advisor on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, publicly dismissed claims of a ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria as exaggerated and unfounded.
Foreign minister insists no genocide has occurred
Responding to the US president’s comments, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar issued a firm denial on Saturday.
‘For the avoidance of any doubt, and out of respect for all victims and survivors of this appalling crime against humanity, let the record show that there is no genocide, now or ever, in Nigeria,’ Tuggar wrote in a social media post.
He emphasised that the government remains committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and urged international partners to avoid politicising Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
Religious tensions and mixed conflict toll
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is almost evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south. Violence between armed groups, herders, and farmers has been recurrent for years, but analysts say such clashes have affected both Christians and Muslims alike.
Security experts and human rights organisations have long disputed the characterisation of these conflicts as religious persecution, arguing that factors such as land disputes, poverty, and governance failures are more significant drivers of violence.
Abuja reaffirms ties with Washington
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Trump’s announcement would not harm bilateral relations with the United States.
‘Nigeria continues to value its longstanding partnership with Washington and will not allow misinformation to undermine that relationship,’ the statement read.
It reiterated the government’s pledge to ‘defend the rights and safety of all Nigerians, irrespective of race, creed or religion’, calling for greater international understanding of the country’s complex security dynamics.
