The Ministry of International Affairs has rejected current experiences alleging focused killings of Christians in Nigeria.
The Federal Authorities described the report as a part of a deceptive marketing campaign geared toward influencing overseas governments to designate the nation as a “Nation of Specific Concern” on account of violence in opposition to Christians.
This was contained in a press release signed by the Appearing Spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Friday.
In response to experiences, the USA Home International Affairs Subcommittee on Africa authorised President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria because of the alleged widespread killing of Christians and escalating non secular violence inside the nation.
The approval got here after a congressional listening to on Wednesday, the place lawmakers expressed frustration over the Nigerian authorities’s alleged failure to guard Christian communities from the continuing assaults.
A report by the Observatory for Non secular Freedom in Africa, cited through the listening to, revealed that Nigeria accounted for 90 % of all Christians killed globally every year.
Between October 2019 and September 2023, over 55,000 folks had been killed, and a further 21,000 had been kidnapped by terrorist teams.
Nonetheless, the ministry acknowledged the nation’s safety challenges however burdened that such incidents usually are not motivated by non secular bias.
It stated that almost all of violence within the predominantly Muslim northern area stems from criminality, insurgency, and banditry, not non secular persecution.
“The Ministry of International Affairs needs to precise sturdy concern over the current wave of misinformation and deceptive experiences concerning the supposed focused killings of Christians in Nigeria.
“The unlucky improvement is meant to affect overseas governments, particularly the USA Authorities, to designate Nigeria a Nation of Specific Concern, because of the violence in opposition to Christians.
“Whereas the Federal Authorities acknowledges the safety challenges confronting the nation, it’s crucial to make clear that these adverse actions usually are not pushed by non secular bias, nor focused in opposition to any specific non secular group.
“It needs to be famous that almost all of incidents regarding insurgency and banditry that happen within the predominantly Muslim northern a part of Nigeria usually are not focused at followers of a selected religion or faith. Any narrative that seeks to offer such incidents a colouration of spiritual persecution is inaccurate and deceptive,” the assertion learn partially.
In response to the assertion, the ministry emphasised that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation, and the federal government stays dedicated to defending all residents, no matter religion or ethnicity.
The ministry highlighted the federal government’s ongoing efforts to fight safety threats, together with army actions in opposition to insurgents and bandits, and efforts to handle communal clashes, corresponding to these between farmers and herders.
“The federal government of Nigeria, underneath the management of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken important steps to handle these safety issues, together with the deployment of safety forces, intelligence gathering and group engagement initiatives.
“Certainly, the army has recorded substantial positive aspects in curbing the actions of bandits and insurgents.
“To carry an finish to such safety challenges, each the federal and state authorities have launched into kinetic and non-kinetic strategies and expedited the implementation of the nationwide livestock plan,” the assertion added.
The ministry urged the worldwide group to confirm info earlier than making statements that would deepen tensions in Nigeria.
It additionally referred to as on media, civil society organisations, and overseas companions to keep away from spreading unverified claims, stressing the significance of nationwide unity and stability.
The assertion concluded, “Nigeria reaffirmed its dedication to spiritual tolerance and peaceable coexistence and welcomed worldwide assist in addressing its safety challenges. Nonetheless, it firmly rejected makes an attempt to misrepresent the nation and gasoline division amongst its folks.
“The Ministry of International Affairs, due to this fact, urges the worldwide group to train warning and confirm info earlier than drawing conclusions or making statements that would exacerbate tensions inside Nigeria.
“We name on all stakeholders, together with the media, civil society organizations and overseas companions, to chorus from spreading unverified claims that would undermine nationwide unity and stability.
“Nigeria stays a beacon of spiritual tolerance and coexistence in Africa and is dedicated to preserving this heritage. We welcome constructive dialogue and assist from the worldwide group in addressing our safety challenges.
“Nonetheless, we strongly reject any makes an attempt to wrongly designate the nation, distort the narrative, or sow seeds of discord amongst our folks.”
