THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that Christians are being killed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing such claims as “politics taken too far.”
Speaking in an interview today, Wike said it was unthinkable for anyone to accuse a government he serves in of supporting genocide or the persecution of Christians.
“It is an indictment that a government I am serving is being accused of supporting the killing of Christians. This is politics taken too far,” he said.
The minister pointed out that several top security chiefs in the country, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Chief of Defence Staff, are all Christians.
“Tell me how any right-thinking person will believe that we would sit in government and support the killing of our own people?” he questioned.
Wike emphasized that no responsible leader takes pleasure in the loss of lives, adding that the killings in any part of Nigeria bring sadness to all.
His comments followed recent statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that Christianity in Nigeria was facing “an existential threat.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump revealed that he had directed the Pentagon to draw up a potential plan of attack against Nigeria if the government failed to stop the alleged killings of Christians.
Trump described the proposed response as “fast, vicious, and sweet,” warning that the U.S. would not stand by while Christians were being killed “in very large numbers.”
He later reiterated the threat after the Nigerian presidency called for dialogue to address the issue.
When asked if he was concerned about Trump’s threats, Wike declined to give a direct answer but suggested that misinformation might be fueling the situation.
“There could be some misinformation or distortion. It’s unfortunate,” he remarked.
The minister’s reaction comes as tensions rise over international criticism of Nigeria’s handling of religious violence, with the federal government insisting that the allegations of genocide are politically motivated and unfounded.