Tinubu Refutes Trump’s Claim Of Christian Persecution In Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed United States President Donald Trump’s claim of a “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, insisting that portraying the country as religiously intolerant does not reflect reality.

Trump, on Friday, declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians. Writing on his Truth Social platform, he described the situation as a “mass slaughter,” claiming that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and that “radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”

He said the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.

Responding on Saturday, President Tinubu, in a statement personally signed by him, rejected Trump’s claims, maintaining that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it recognise government efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief. Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu stated.

He explained that since 2023, his administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” he added. “Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.”

The Federal Government also rejected the U.S. designation in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

“The Federal Government has noted the recent statement by the United States on religious freedom in Nigeria,” Ebienfa said, stressing that the country remains committed to tackling violent extremism driven by criminal and ideological interests across the Sahel region.

He added that Nigeria, like the U.S., celebrates its diversity.

“We mourn all victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces as they fight these cowardly foes. The Federal Government will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Nigeria is a God-fearing country that respects faith, tolerance, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read.

In September, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had also dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing them as “false, baseless, and divisive.”

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a campaign against one religion is inaccurate and harmful,” Idris said, adding that extremists target citizens of all faiths.

“Muslims, Christians, and even non-religious Nigerians have all suffered alike,” he noted. According to him, security forces have neutralised over 13,500 terrorists and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages since May 2023.

On October 14, the Senate constituted a 12-member ad-hoc committee to study global claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria. Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the committee to produce a fact-based report to guide the country’s diplomatic response, saying, “Our findings must be backed with verifiable facts and statistics.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), however, expressed concern that Christian communities continue to face repeated attacks. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged the government to protect citizens and bring perpetrators to justice.

“Our concern remains that these cries for justice are too often met with delay or denial,” he said. He added that CAN has documented several religiously motivated attacks and appealed to international bodies for intervention.

“The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics,” the association said.

Minister Idris reaffirmed that religious freedom remains guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution and urged international observers to act responsibly. “We urge all commentators to support Nigeria’s efforts in combating terrorism and criminality,” he added.