ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has firmly rejected the recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ by the United States, which accused the West African nation of failing to curb the persecution of Christians. In a statement released on social media on Saturday, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is a nation built on religious freedom and tolerance, rejecting the characterization as inaccurate and misleading. He stated, ‘Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Our constitution guarantees protection for citizens of all faiths.’
The U.S. designation, which was echoed in a social media post by former President Donald Trump on Friday, claimed that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria due to actions by radical Islamists. Trump’s comments followed weeks of similar claims by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who urged Congress to label Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, citing alleged ‘Christian mass murder.’
Nigeria, with a population of 220 million, is nearly evenly split between Christians and Muslims. The country has long grappled with insecurity from various sources, including the extremist group Boko Haram, which seeks to impose its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has targeted both Christians and Muslims. Attacks in Nigeria are driven by a range of motives, including religious tensions, farmer-herder conflicts over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, and ethnic clashes.
Analysts note that while Christians are among those targeted, the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north, where most attacks occur. Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless of religion. ‘The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,’ Ebienfa said. ‘Like America, Nigeria celebrates the diversity that is our greatest strength.’
Nigeria was first placed on the U.S. ‘country of particular concern’ list in 2020 over alleged ‘systematic violations of religious freedom.’ The designation, which did not specifically single out attacks on Christians, was lifted in 2023, a move seen as an effort to improve bilateral relations ahead of then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit.