Nigeria Rejects U.S. “Religious Freedom Violator” Label, Calls It Misleading and Unfair

Nigeria’s government sharply rejected the United States’ decision to brand it a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom violations, insisting the move relies on misinformation and flawed data. On Wednesday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris told reporters that the designation ignores the country’s aggressive fight against terrorism and misrepresents complex security issues as targeted persecution. The rebuke follows President Donald Trump’s announcement last week to restore Nigeria to the US watchlist, a step that has deepened diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Trump heightened the stakes on Saturday by ordering the Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military action if Nigeria fails to halt the killing of Christians. Nigerian officials called the threat unwarranted and inflammatory. Idris argued that such rhetoric oversimplifies Nigeria’s challenges, which stem from insurgent violence rather than state-sponsored religious attacks. He stressed that the government views the US claims as an unfair portrayal that undermines years of bilateral cooperation.

Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede echoed this on Monday, stating that Nigeria faces terrorism, not Christian persecution. The presidency welcomed US assistance against Islamist groups but insisted on respect for national sovereignty. Idris highlighted progress under President Bola Tinubu since May 2023, including over 13,500 militants killed, 17,000 suspects arrested, and 11,200 hostages rescued, many of them women and children.

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Idris noted that terrorist attacks affect both Muslims and Christians indiscriminately. He pointed to Nigeria’s diverse society—home to more than 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam, and traditional faiths—as evidence of historic coexistence despite occasional violence driven by ethnic tensions and resource competition. The government remains open to international partnerships to eradicate extremism through military operations, regional collaboration, and dialogue.

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