The Federal Government has firmly rejected suggestions that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, insisting that the country has never operated a state policy that targets any religion, despite concerns raised in a recent report submitted to the White House by committees of the United States Congress.
Reacting to a joint report on Christian persecution in Nigeria produced by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Appropriations Committee, the government said the violence ravaging parts of the country is driven by terrorism, banditry, organised crime and communal tensions, not religious bias.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, acknowledged that Nigeria continues to face serious security challenges that have resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property across several regions. He stressed, however, that victims of insecurity span all faiths, ethnic groups and communities.
“There is no state-sponsored religious persecution in Nigeria,” the government said, adding that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and worship and that these rights are being upheld. According to the statement, the ongoing violence confronting security agencies is the result of complex threats, including terrorism and criminality, rather than government policy or religious discrimination.
The report, submitted to the White House following engagements within the United States Congress, had raised concerns about attacks on Christian communities and called for closer scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation.
Responding, the Federal Government said it had significantly intensified coordinated military and law enforcement operations across affected areas, with counter-terrorism offensives degrading armed groups, disrupting kidnapping networks and leading to arrests and neutralisation of key criminal elements. It added that intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration had been strengthened to improve early warning and rapid response, particularly in vulnerable rural communities.
The government also highlighted ongoing surveillance and clearance operations in forested areas previously exploited by criminal gangs, including the deployment of specially trained forest guards to deny terrorists and bandits safe havens. These measures, it said, are being supported by increased investment in equipment, mobility and technology for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Beyond security operations, the statement said efforts were under way to scale up humanitarian support for internally displaced persons, facilitate the safe return of affected communities and promote community-based peacebuilding initiatives aimed at fostering long-term coexistence.
While rejecting the suggestion of religious persecution, the government described the US report as a potential catalyst for broader cooperation. It reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with the United States, anchored on mutual respect, shared responsibility and recognition of Nigeria’s constitutional framework and sovereignty.
The Federal Government pledged to continue engaging international partners through diplomatic channels, while remaining focused on what it described as its primary duty: the protection of all Nigerians, irrespective of faith or background.
