The federal government has denied recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.
It maintained that such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in a statement issued Sunday said portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group was a gross misrepresentation of reality.
He noted that while Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians was inaccurate and harmful.
Idris stressed that it oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.
Idris added: “The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community.
“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.
“The federal government remains unwavering in its commitment to completely degrading terrorist groups and securing the lives and property of all citizens, and this resolve is already yielding results.
“Between May 2023 and February 2025 alone, over 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralised and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued in multiple military operations across the country.
“Only last month, the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan – commonly known as Ansaru, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured in a well-coordinated counter-terrorism operation.
“They are: Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU; and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy.’’
Idris emphasised that these feats underscore the determination and success of security forces and expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism.
He stated that the federal government is steadfast in its duty to protect every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or religious identity, and continues to work with international partners to address the global threat of terrorism.