THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has dismissed recent allegations suggesting a genocide against Christians in the country, calling such claims misleading and divisive.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Mosque in Abuja, the Council’s Secretary-General, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, acknowledged that while Nigeria has faced violent attacks in some regions, the incidents were not targeted at Christians alone.
Oloyede explained that findings and available intelligence indicated that certain unpatriotic individuals were responsible for pushing the genocide narrative abroad, particularly in the United States, with the intent of creating discord among Nigerians.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen security efforts nationwide to ensure the safety of all citizens.
The Council’s statement follows recent remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who accused the Nigerian government of allowing the systematic killing of Christians and the destruction of churches.
Cruz stated that over 52,000 Christians have been killed and more than 20,000 churches and Christian schools destroyed since 2009. He also announced the introduction of the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, a proposed U.S. law that seeks to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials allegedly involved in religious persecution.
U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, warning that Christianity was “facing an existential threat” in Nigeria. He directed the Pentagon to consider possible military action in the country, warning that the U.S. would strike “fast, vicious, and sweet” if Nigeria failed to curb the killings.
Trump reiterated his threat last Sunday, emphasizing that the United States would not remain passive in the face of what he described as attacks on “cherished Christians.”
The NSCIA, however, maintains that these narratives exaggerate Nigeria’s religious crisis and risk inflaming tensions. The Council called for unity, urging both local and international actors to avoid framing the nation’s security challenges along religious lines.