Key Points
- FG says Trump’s new remark misreads current security and faith realities. Officials insist attacks are fought nationwide.
- Abuja praises armed forces for pushing back violent extremists in northern zones. It says killers target all groups.
- Nigeria stresses ties with Washington will stay firm despite this dispute. It wants deeper talks on Sahel threats.
The Federal Government has pushed back against a fresh claim by United States President Donald Trump that Nigeria deserves to be named a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged mass killings of Christians. Officials in Abuja said the remark does not match facts on the ground and ignores recent security gains.
In the statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria protects worshippers of every faith under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It stressed that government policy is to defend citizens without bias.
The ministry also pointed editors to Trump’s original social media post already published by ValidUpdates, to show what Abuja was responding to. Read Trump’s position in this earlier report.
Nigeria says claim ignores facts
According to spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria mourns all victims of violent extremism and salutes troops facing “vicious but cowardly foes.” He said most assaults in the intersecting West African and Sahel belt are driven by criminal and terror networks, not by a state plan to hunt any religion.
He noted that Nigerians have long lived, worked and married across faiths. For him, that daily reality is the best proof that religious coexistence still stands strong.
The ministry further said Nigeria is a God-fearing nation that celebrates diversity. It added that government will keep defending Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers in line with a rules-based international order.
Partnership with US remains
Abuja stressed that the US has always been a close ally. It said Nigeria will keep engaging Washington so American officials understand the regional drivers of violence, including arms flows, banditry and extremist propaganda across borders.
It also underlined that President Tinubu has, in recent weeks, asked citizens to respect every faith and reject hate speech. That message was echoed at events where he reminded Nigerians that his family already reflects the country’s religious mix. Read more on Tinubu’s call for religious tolerance.
The ministry said Nigeria will stay “laser focused” on partners who believe in peace, freedom and democracy. It added that no false narrative will be allowed to damage the country’s image on religious freedom.
