The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has dismissed the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by former United States President, Donald Trump, describing the move as an attempt to inflame religious tensions and destabilise the country.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Council made its position known on Sunday in Abuja, insisting that claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria were false, politically motivated, and rooted in foreign propaganda.
Speaking at a media briefing, the National Secretary of the Council, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stressed that both Muslims and Christians suffer from the same security challenges fuelled by terrorism, criminality, inequality, and climate-driven resource conflicts.
Oloyede stated, “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. Both Muslims and Christians are victims of terrorists and criminal gangs. These attackers do not represent Islam. They kill Muslims, destroy mosques, and target everyone.”
He argued that independent investigations by global conflict monitors, including Amnesty International, have found no evidence that the violence in Nigeria meets the legal threshold for genocide.
The NSCIA maintained that the renewed foreign interest in Nigeria’s religious composition was not coincidental.
According to Oloyede, efforts to label Nigeria a persecution hotspot escalated after the country reaffirmed its backing for a two-state solution in Palestine at the United Nations.
He alleged that far-right lobbyists and pro-Israeli groups were driving the narrative to divert global focus from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Oloyede warned, “The agenda is distraction and destabilisation. The fastest way to break Nigeria is to inflame religious tensions.”
The Islamic Council urged Nigerians not to fall for what it described as external attempts to sow discord between Christians and Muslims.
It called on both faith communities to treat Nigeria’s security issues as a shared national problem rather than a religious conflict.
“We will not allow foreign interests to fragment Nigeria. We stand for unity, peace, and justice,” Oloyede declared.
The body urged the United States to retract the CPC designation and instead assist Nigeria with intelligence and logistical support to combat terrorism.
It further appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to expose sponsors of banditry and protect citizens irrespective of their faith.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]