By Iyunade Grace
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has rejected claims of Christian genocide in the country, stating that only 177 Christians were killed, 98 injured, and seven abducted in the last five years. He also reported that 102 churches were attacked during the same period. Tuggar emphasized that the Nigerian government does not categorize victims by faith, treating all citizens equally.
Tuggar made these statements during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s show, where he challenged statistics presented by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which claimed that over 50,000 Christians have been killed and 18,000 churches destroyed since 2009. Tuggar described these numbers as inaccurate and criticized the framing of Nigeria’s security crisis along religious lines.
The minister stressed that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, with Muslims and Christians living together peacefully. He pointed out that mosques have also been targeted, underscoring that insecurity in Nigeria affects multiple communities regardless of religion. Tuggar urged a more nuanced understanding of the country’s complex security challenge.
Tuggar’s response came after US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy US military to Nigeria over alleged targeted killings of Christians. Tuggar believes Trump has been misinformed about the crisis in Nigeria, stating that the Nigerian government does not support or condone religious persecution.
The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that it prioritizes the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity. Officials have attributed the violence to extremist groups like Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations, rather than a government-sponsored genocide.
The African Union has also denied claims of genocide in Nigeria, and experts argue that labeling the situation a “Christian genocide” is simplistic and misleading. They emphasize that the violence is complex, involving issues of land disputes, ethnicity, and terrorism, affecting both Muslims and Christians.
