The Federal Government has strongly refuted allegations by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz that Christians are being massacred in Nigeria with the government’s backing, describing the claims as “ignorant, false, and baseless.”
Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, had accused Nigerian authorities of enabling a “massacre” against Christians in the country’s central region. He also announced the introduction of a bill — the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act — seeking sanctions against Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in such violence.
But in a firm rebuttal on Wednesday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims, saying they were founded on misinformation and distorted figures.
“This is not true. It’s not a reflection of reality,” Idris declared. “It’s false to say that over 20,000 churches have been burned or that 52,000 Christians have been killed. Where did he get those numbers from? It’s absurd and unsupported by any credible facts. The Nigerian government rejects that entirely.”
Idris stressed that no government official or institution in Nigeria supports or colludes with extremists, adding that such insinuations are “deeply offensive” to a nation built on religious coexistence.
“No Nigerian official will ever indulge in siding with violent extremists to target any religion. This claim is absolutely false,” he said.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of religious freedom, the minister noted that the country remains a diverse, multi-faith society where Christians, Muslims, and people of other beliefs live and work together peacefully.
“Nigeria is a tolerant country,” Idris stated. “The government is committed to upholding religious freedom and ensuring the safety of every citizen, regardless of faith.”
He, however, acknowledged that violent extremism continues to pose challenges to all Nigerians, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have suffered at the hands of terrorists and bandits.
“It’s tragic that extremists have killed both Christians and Muslims,” he lamented. “But to claim there’s a deliberate attempt to exterminate one religious group is not only false but deeply unfortunate.”
The minister assured citizens and the international community that Nigeria’s security agencies remain fully committed to defeating terrorism and banditry across the country, adding that every Nigerian — irrespective of religion — will continue to be protected without discrimination.
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