The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has dismissed claims of a so-called Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing the allegations as false, dangerous, and politically motivated.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Council’s Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the narratives being pushed by some Western media outlets and foreign political figures were part of a coordinated attempt to destabilise the country.
Oloyede insisted that Nigeria’s security challenges are rooted in criminality, poverty, bad governance, and climate-driven displacement — not religious persecution.
“We affirm that in Nigeria, there is no Christian terrorism. There is no Muslim terrorism. There is no religious intolerance in Nigeria,” he said. “Nigeria’s tragedy is that of poverty, climate change, years of poor governance, and armed criminals who kill indiscriminately, while a section of the world seeks to exploit the situation for geopolitical gain.”
The Council’s remarks come amid renewed debate after former U.S. President Donald Trump condemned alleged mass killings of Christians in Nigeria and directed the U.S. Department of War “to prepare for possible action,” saying any American intervention would be “fast, vicious, and sweet” if the Nigerian government failed to stop the violence.
Oloyede accused separatist groups, foreign lobbyists, and certain U.S. politicians of manipulating Nigeria’s insecurity for personal and political advantage.
He said these actors were circulating fabricated numbers and doctored videos to influence foreign governments, especially the United States, to impose sanctions or punitive measures on Nigeria.
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According to him, even the renewed U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” was “a political tool, not a reflection of realities on the ground.”
The NSCIA urged the Nigerian government and the global community to reject what it described as a “false and destabilising narrative.” The Council also called on Trump to support Nigeria with intelligence and logistics instead of amplifying misinformation.
Oloyede emphasised the need for unity between Muslims and Christians, saying, “There is no Muslim terrorism or Christian terrorism in Nigeria — only criminals exploiting our divisions.”
