Numerous American right-wing figureheads have claimed that a genocide is being committed against Christians in Nigeria, but this could not be further from the truth.
The claim has gained significant momentum, particularly in the United States, where political figures such as President Donald Trump and Republican senator Ted Cruz have used it to justify foreign policy pressure. Trump recently claimed Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and accused “Islamic terrorists” of committing “mass slaughter.”
He threatened to cut off U.S. aid and ordered the “Department of War” to prepare for possible action, stating: “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.” Cruz introduced a bill to sanction Nigerian officials, alleging they enable “Islamist violence”.
Commentators such as Bill Maher have amplified these claims, repeating unfounded assertions that Christians are being systematically exterminated. “This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country,” Maher said.
Such views have been amplified by right-wing commentators and Elon Musk on X to justify calls for sanctions and official U.S. designations of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). A CPC designation is a foreign policy tool used by the U.S. State Department to identify nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom. It can trigger diplomatic penalties, including sanctions, export restrictions, and limits on foreign aid. These designations, however, often rely on selective data and exaggerated interpretations of Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
Violence targets Muslims
Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province) have claimed responsibility for high-profile attacks on churches and Christian villages. These horrific acts are real and deserve condemnation, but they are only a small part of a much bigger picture.
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Most victims of these groups have been Muslims. Boko Haram emerged in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority northeast, where it has killed tens of thousands of Nigerian Muslims, including countless scholars and civilians it deemed apostates.
Fulani herders, mostly Muslim, have clashed with farming communities made up of both Muslims and Christians. But this violence stems from disputes over grazing land and water, not religious ideology. In many instances, both Muslims and Christians have been perpetrators and victims.
According to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), between 2020 and 2025 there were 385 attacks specifically targeting Christians, resulting in 317 deaths. In contrast, attacks targeting Muslims led to 417 deaths, refuting claims of a one-sided extermination.
Nigerian government
The Nigerian government has made substantial efforts to combat terrorism and protect all citizens regardless of faith.
Since 2023, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched coordinated military operations nationwide.
Over 13,500 militants were reportedly killed, and more than 124,000 fighters and their families have surrendered, according to the government.
Nigerian troops have also recovered weapons and disrupted planned attacks.
These actions contradict claims that the Nigerian government is ignoring or enabling anti-Christian violence. Security agencies have also been restructured for better coordination.
In response to Trump’s threats, the Nigerian presidency welcomed counterterrorism assistance but emphasised national sovereignty, stating: “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
Resource-rich nation
Nigeria’s abundance of natural resources may also explain why foreign actors are promoting destabilising narratives. The country has 37 billion barrels of oil, 202 trillion cubic feet of gas, and vast mineral wealth. It also possesses renewable energy potential and fertile agricultural land.
Such wealth makes Nigeria a strategic interest. Exaggerating internal crises can justify interventions or sanctions that serve foreign agendas rather than Nigerian stability.
Beyond oil and gas, Nigeria’s untapped solid minerals — such as gold, bitumen, coal, and iron ore — remain highly attractive to global markets. With the global transition to green technologies requiring rare earths and battery metals, some nations may be positioning themselves to influence Nigeria’s resource extraction and trade policies under the guise of humanitarian concern.
Political backlash over Palestine
The smear campaign intensified after Nigeria’s speech at the 2025 UN General Assembly, where Vice President Kashim Shettima cautiously supported a two-state solution in Palestine. The backlash from Western media and politicians was swift.
Although Nigeria’s speech largely focused on institutional reform and global equity, critics fixated on a single paragraph in the 25-paragraph address. Some accused Nigeria of hypocrisy and attempted to redirect attention to alleged Christian persecution.
Analysts believe the outrage was politically motivated, aimed at punishing Nigeria for challenging dominant Western narratives. It illustrates how international positions can be weaponised to spread disinformation.
False claims from U.S. politicians
Trump and Cruz are not alone. Representative Riley Moore called Nigeria “the deadliest country in the world for Christians” and pushed for renewed sanctions.
Many groups report high Christian casualties, but their figures often conflate causes of violence and rely on unverifiable sources. These reports are frequently quoted and used to inflame public opinion for political gain.
ACLED data confirms that both Christians and Muslims are targeted, with most violence stemming from political, ethnic, or resource-based disputes rather than religious ideology. Experts warn that exaggerating genocide claims could escalate tensions. As Professor Olajumoke Ayandele noted, such framing risks putting everyone “on alert.”
Diverse national structure
Nigeria is not a religiously monolithic state. Its nearly even Christian-Muslim population is reflected in its leadership. The Chief of Defence Staff, Army Chief, Navy Chief, Director of State Security, and Inspector General of Police are all Christians.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu — the first to have served as a senator — is also a Christian and an ordained pastor. Many cabinet ministers and governors are Christians.
To suggest that such a government is enabling genocide is both baseless and absurd. Nigeria’s past crises, such as the Biafran War, were driven by politics and ethnicity, not religious campaigns.
The narrative of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria is politically motivated, factually flawed, and dangerously misleading. It undermines genuine efforts to address Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Nigeria’s problems stem from terrorism, land disputes, and poverty — and both Christians and Muslims have suffered. The path forward lies in reform and unity, not disinformation.
Misrepresenting Nigeria’s struggles for foreign political leverage helps no one, except those who profit from chaos.
