Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, has downplayed reports suggesting that Christians are being deliberately targeted in Nigeria.
Boulos made the statement during a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
He dismissed what he described as “misleading claims” of a Christian genocide, saying the crisis in Nigeria goes beyond religion.
According to him, violence in parts of the country is driven by terrorism and insecurity, not faith.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that his comment comes at a time when several U.S. lawmakers are urging Washington to list Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.
Responding to questions on the matter, Boulos said, “Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe.”
He added that insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS have killed both Christians and Muslims.
“People of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of terrorist acts, but it’s very unfortunate,” he said.
“We even know that Boko Haram and ISIS are killing more Muslims than Christians. People are suffering from all sorts of backgrounds. This is not specifically targeted about one group or the other.”
Boulos noted that conflicts between farmers and herders, especially in the Middle Belt, have claimed many lives, including those of Christian farmers, but stressed that the violence is not one-sided.
“But definitely it’s not something that we can say is specifically targeted about a specific group,” he stated.
He described Nigeria as a nation with diverse ethnic and religious identities that has coexisted peacefully for decades.
“This has never been a serious religious issue and should not be,” Boulos added.
The U.S. adviser also commended the Tinubu administration for its ongoing efforts to strengthen national security, noting that sustained collaboration between both countries would help address terrorism and communal violence more effectively.
Recall that in recent months, several international rights groups and U.S. politicians have accused Nigerian authorities of turning a blind eye to alleged attacks on Christian communities, an issue that continues to draw global attention.