The Federal Government has strongly condemned and refuted recent allegations by some international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Sunday, described the claims as “false, baseless, and dangerously divisive,” warning that such narratives distort reality and serve the agenda of terrorists who aim to divide Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines.

According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges, like those of many other nations, are complex and multifaceted, and should not be mischaracterised as a targeted assault on any particular faith.
“The violent acts of these criminals are indiscriminate. Their victims cut across faith and ethnicity, Muslims, Christians, and even those with no religious affiliation have all suffered their atrocities,” Idris stated.

Highlighting recent counter-terrorism successes, the Minister said between May 2023 and February 2025, over 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralised while nearly 10,000 hostages were rescued in military operations nationwide.

He also disclosed that last month, the top leadership of ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured in a coordinated raid, a feat he said “debunks the narrative that Nigeria tolerates religiously motivated terrorism.”

Idris reaffirmed that Nigeria is a multi-religious state with thriving Christian and Muslim communities.
“Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalised in Nigeria. Both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police are Christians, proof of the inclusivity of our national leadership,” he noted.

The Minister also pointed to ongoing prosecutions of Boko Haram suspects, with over 700 convictions secured so far, alongside military and police accountability measures through court martials and prosecutions.

Underscoring Nigeria’s global recognition for interfaith harmony, Idris recalled that two Nigerian clerics, Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, recently won the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize for their decades of work promoting trust and tolerance.
“The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide, but of resilience, diversity, and peaceful coexistence,” Idris stressed, adding that under President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government remains committed to justice, security, and ensuring peace for all citizens.

He urged the international media and commentators to respect facts, avoid sensationalism, and support Nigeria’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and criminality.