The federal government f Nigeria has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s statement labelling Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over Christian genocide claims.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday.
The “mass slaughter” was attributed by the US president to militant Islamists.
Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs however said in a statement on Saturday that the accusations do not accurately represent the situation on the ground.
Spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa insisted that Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.
He stated that although Nigeria values international concern for religious freedom and human rights, the accusations are false and go against the government’s persistent efforts to foster harmony and peace.
These genocide concerns come in the wake of mass killings in specific states in the Northern region of the country.
“Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Read Also: Trump labels Nigeria as ‘country of particular concern’ over Christian genocide claims
Ebienfa further added that Nigeria will continue to engage constructively with the US government to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.
US Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill to defend “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria at the beginning of September.
President Bola Tinubu declared on September 30 that accusations of religious genocide in Nigeria were baseless, pointing out that the nation is based on the faith and tenacity of its citizens.
In response to mounting international concerns about suspected state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the Senate established a 12-member ad hoc committee on October 14 to draft a comprehensive position paper.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
