September 28, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has dismissed claims of religious genocide in Nigeria, insisting that terrorist groups target citizens indiscriminately, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Sunday, described the allegations as false, misleading, and divisive, stressing that terrorists attack Muslims, Christians, and even those with no religious affiliation.
Idris cautioned the international media and commentators against misrepresenting Nigeria’s security challenges as a deliberate assault on Christians, warning that such narratives oversimplify a complex crisis and play into the hands of extremists.
He reiterated government’s commitment to defeating terrorism, noting that between May 2023 and February 2025, security forces neutralised over 13,500 terrorists and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages.
He also cited the recent capture of the leadership of ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, as evidence of progress.
“The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology,” Idris said.
He added that Nigeria has secured more than 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects across seven prosecution cycles, with the eighth already underway.
The minister further dismissed suggestions of government complicity, stressing that both Christians and Muslims occupy top positions in the Armed Forces and Police, reflecting inclusivity in national leadership.
Idris emphasised that Nigeria remains a multi-religious state, home to some of the world’s largest Muslim communities and Christian congregations.
He pointed to the recent Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to Nigerian clerics Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa for their interfaith peacebuilding work as proof that Nigeria exports models of religious harmony, not persecution.
“The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide but of resilience, diversity, and peaceful coexistence,” Idris said.
He urged foreign voices to respect facts and support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism rather than inflame divisions.
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