Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday rejected claims that Christians are being killed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Wike described the narrative of genocide under the current government as “politics taken too far.”
“It is an indictment that a government I am serving, anybody will allege that this government is supporting genocide, killing of Christians, and I am still in that government,” Wike said.
He further noted, “The Inspector General of Police is a Christian, the Director General of the Department of State Services is a Christian, the Chief of Defence Staff is a Christian.
“Tell me how any right-thinking person will think that we would sit in a government and support the killing of our own people?”
Wike also stressed that the killings of Nigerians anywhere in the country bring no joy to any leader.
His comments come after former U.S. President Donald Trump warned of possible military action in Nigeria over what he described as attacks on Christians.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump claimed he had asked the Pentagon to map out a potential plan of attack, a day after warning that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
Trump said the U.S. could intervene if Nigeria failed to stop the killings, adding, “It will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
When asked if he was concerned about a potential U.S. invasion, Wike did not directly respond but suggested that some of the reports may involve misinformation or distortion.
“There could be some misinformation or distortion. It’s unfortunate,” he said, hinting that the situation might be politically motivated.