FG, AU Dismiss Claims of Religious Persecution and Genocide in Nigeria Amid Global Reactions

The Federal Government has strongly refuted allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, insisting the claims are false, misleading, and harmful to the country’s global image.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, criticised the selective editing of his recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, warning that such distortion could fuel “misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution.” Tuggar demanded the full, unedited version be aired to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s position.

His counterpart at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also rejected the accusations, saying religious freedom remains fully protected under Nigeria’s Constitution.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has clarified that there is no genocide in northern Nigeria, even as the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) urged U.S. President Donald Trump to support President Bola Tinubu in tackling insecurity rather than threaten military action.

The ministers were reacting to Trump’s claim that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide, coupled with his threat of military intervention should the government fail to curb killings by terrorists and bandits.

Tuggar: Nigeria’s religious freedoms cannot be distorted

In a post on X, Tuggar said he appeared on Piers Morgan’s flagship programme to provide factual, data-backed responses about the state of religious freedoms in Nigeria.

He stated:

“My explanations, supported by verifiable data, may not have conformed to certain preconceived views… For the sake of integrity and transparency, it is essential that the full interview be aired exactly as recorded.”

Tuggar added that it is “impossible” for the Nigerian government to persecute any citizen based on faith, describing state-backed discrimination as “unthinkable.”

Idris: Misinformation fuels false claims

Speaking at the 5th National Advertising Conference in Abuja, Idris said narratives portraying Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom are “false and damaging.”

He said:

“This narrative is a distortion of our reality as a nation of diverse peoples and faiths who have lived together peacefully for generations.”

He stressed that while Nigeria faces serious security challenges, terrorism has affected all groups equally:

“All Nigerians—Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths—have suffered from the menace of terrorism and banditry.”

Idris urged communication professionals to help counter misinformation by promoting unity and factual reporting.

AU: No genocide in northern Nigeria

At a briefing in New York, African Union Commission Chair, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, said claims of genocide are inaccurate.

He explained:

“The complexity of the situation in northern Nigeria should push us to think twice before making such statements. The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians.”

UN data indicates that Boko Haram’s insurgency, active since 2009, has killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than two million.

PFN urges U.S. to assist Nigeria, not threaten invasion

Responding to Trump’s comments, PFN President Wale Oke called for U.S.–Nigeria cooperation to curb insecurity.

He said:

“We do not want an American invasion of Nigeria… We want Donald Trump to work with our President and hold him accountable to stop the targeted killing and kidnapping of our members.”

Oke insisted the priority is ending nationwide killings so Nigerians of all faiths can live freely.

Peter Obi: Debate over genocide misses the point—people are dying

Former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also weighed in, saying the outrage over Trump’s remarks is misplaced.

Obi said:

“He was merely echoing what many Nigerians of good conscience have been saying… The reality is stark: Nigeria is facing existential challenges.”

He argued that whether the violence is labelled genocide or not is secondary to the fact that Nigerians are being killed daily.

Obi added that the country is “disgraced” not because of external criticism but because of worsening insecurity, poverty, and systemic impunity.

Despite the grim picture, he urged Nigerians not to lose hope:

“Even in the face of such grim realities, we must not lose faith in our capacity to rebuild.”

Opinion Nigeria News