Nigeria rejects U.S. religious freedom designation, says it is based on 'faulty data'

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.

Copied