The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has faulted the United States over what it described as a false narrative of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
The Council said the claim, pushed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right groups, was part of a calculated attempt to cause division and unrest in the country.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, the NSCIA National Secretary, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, dismissed the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, calling it “dangerous propaganda aimed at destabilising Nigeria.”
He said there was no credible evidence to prove that Muslims were persecuting Christians, stressing that the insecurity across Nigeria was driven by terrorism, criminality, poverty, and climate change, not religion.
“There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. Both Muslims and Christians are victims of terrorists and criminal gangs,” Oloyede said.
“These attackers do not represent Islam. They kill Muslims, destroy mosques, and target everyone.”
He noted that several independent investigations, including reports from Amnesty International and other global monitors, had confirmed that the violence in Nigeria does not meet the legal threshold for genocide under international law.
Oloyede also linked the renewed foreign interest in Nigeria’s religious affairs to the country’s stance at the United Nations, where it reaffirmed support for a two-state solution in Palestine.
He alleged that pro-Israeli and far-right groups were behind the genocide narrative to divert global attention from the crisis in Gaza.
“The agenda is distraction and destabilisation. The fastest way to break Nigeria is to inflame religious tensions,” he warned.
The Islamic body urged Nigerians of all faiths to reject foreign manipulation and focus on national unity.
It also called on the U.S. government to retract its statement and offer support in intelligence and logistics to help Nigeria combat terrorism.
“We will not allow foreign interests to fragment Nigeria. We stand for unity, peace, and justice,” Oloyede added.
The Council further appealed to the Nigerian government to strengthen security across all regions, expose sponsors of banditry, and ensure the protection of every citizen, regardless of religion.
It could be recalled that President Donald Trump recently threatened military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
His administration had earlier placed Nigeria on the list of Countries of Particular Concern, a move that was widely criticised by the Nigerian government and religious leaders alike.