Nigeria’s government on Wednesday rejected the United States’ decision to label it a “country of particular concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom, saying the move was based on flawed information and inaccurate data.
President Donald Trump reinstated Nigeria on the list last week and warned that Washington could take swift military action if Abuja failed to stop attacks on Christians. The designation has strained relations between the two countries.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris dismissed Trump’s threats as unjustified, saying they misrepresented Nigeria’s complex security situation. “Any suggestion that the Nigerian state is failing to act against religious attacks is founded on misinformation or faulty data,” he said.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said the country was confronting terrorism rather than religious persecution, while the presidency noted it would welcome U.S. assistance against Islamist militants, provided national sovereignty was respected.
Idris said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had achieved major progress since May 2023, citing the deaths of more than 13,500 militants, the arrest of 17,000 suspects, and the rescue of over 11,200 hostages. He stressed that terrorism affects both Christians and Muslims, and that the government remains committed to eradicating extremism through military action, regional partnerships, and dialogue.
Home to more than 200 ethnic groups practising Islam, Christianity, and traditional faiths, Nigeria has a long history of coexistence but continues to experience sporadic violence, often driven by ethnic rivalries and resource competition.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance...
China responded to Washington on Monday with trade restrictions targeting 56 American companies, in a calibrated response to U.S. measures imposed on ...
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, met senior Afghan officials in Kabul during a three-day visit ...
At least 12 students have died after a fire broke out in a building in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities said. Most of the victi...
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub a...
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
China responded to Washington on Monday with trade restrictions targeting 56 American companies, in a calibrated response to U.S. measures imposed on Chinese firms earlier this month.
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, met senior Afghan officials in Kabul during a three-day visit aimed at expanding political, trade, transit and investment cooperation.
At least 12 students have died after a fire broke out in a building in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities said. Most of the victims were teenagers attending an animation centre in the building when the blaze began.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships again, citing alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement by the U.S. and Israel. Lebanon has said Israeli strikes killed 16 people on Saturday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an impending massive Russian attack on Ukraine. It comes days after Kyiv carried out a major aeriel assault on Russia, including striking an oil refinery just 16km (10 miles) from the Kremlin in Moscow, sparking a major fire and killing four.
A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 guests and staff.
Sudan's military leadership has welcomed a growing number of defections from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reshaping alliances in the country's civil war while raising concerns among civilians and human rights groups over accountability for alleged wartime abuses.
China responded to Washington on Monday with trade restrictions targeting 56 American companies, in a calibrated response to U.S. measures imposed on Chinese firms earlier this month.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he will step down as Prime Minister and Labour Party leader in a tearful address outside Downing Street in London on Monday. Starmer's resignation comes two years after he won a landslide election victory.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 22 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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