Nigeria rejects US claim of religious persecution, saying Trump’s comments on Christian killings misrepresent the country’s security realities
Nigeria has rejects US religious persecution claim after President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action over alleged killings of Christians in the country.
Also read: BREAKING: Trump designates Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’ citing Christian genocide claims
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar made the government’s position clear during a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, stressing that Nigeria’s constitution forbids any form of discrimination based on faith.
“There can’t be a religious persecution that can be supported in any way, shape or form by the government of Nigeria at any level,” Tuggar stated.
His response came after Trump claimed on social media that he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare a military plan because “they’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers.”
Tuggar dismissed the allegations as unfounded, insisting that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and the rule of law.
He cautioned against attempts by foreign powers to exploit the country’s diversity for political or ideological reasons.
Standing beside his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, the minister warned that divisive rhetoric could fuel instability similar to what led to the partition of Sudan.
“What we are trying to make the world understand is that we should not create another Sudan. We’ve seen what happened when partitioning was done along religious or tribal lines — the crisis never ended,” he said.
Trump had alleged that thousands of Christians were being killed by radical Islamists, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter.”
However, the Nigerian government insists that violence in the country affects both Christians and Muslims, and stems largely from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than religious persecution.
Officials reiterated that Nigeria’s security forces continue to combat insurgents and criminal networks across all regions, regardless of religious identity.
Also read: FG dismisses ‘Christian Genocide’ allegation as propaganda
By reaffirming its secular constitution and national unity, the government seeks to ease diplomatic tensions and correct what it calls “a dangerous misrepresentation” of Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
