Senate counters Christian genocide allegations, set to engage U.S. lawmakers
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday rejected what it described as “false and dangerous” claims of an ongoing Christian genocide in Nigeria, resolving to engage members of the United States Congress to correct what it termed a gross misrepresentation of the country’s security situation.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), and seven others.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities,” warned that the growing narrative of religious persecution was being weaponised by foreign interests and advocacy groups.
Presenting the motion, Ndume said while the Senate acknowledges the “tragic and unacceptable” attacks suffered by Christian communities, it was misleading to interpret Nigeria’s security crisis in purely religious terms.
“Nigeria’s insecurity is multi-faceted driven by terrorism, poverty, banditry, and communal conflicts not by religion. Labeling it a ‘Christian genocide’ distorts the truth, deepens division, and misguides international partners,” Ndume stated.
He noted that recent debates in the U.S. Congress, particularly the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, had raised concern.
The bill seeks to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of enabling violence against Christians and other minorities and recommends re-listing Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged religious persecution.
Co-sponsor of the motion, Senator Suleiman Kawu (Kano South), described the U.S. proposal as “ill-informed,” urging the Senate to defend Nigeria’s image through diplomatic dialogue.
“In my constituency alone, there are more than 50 churches, and we coexist peacefully. The idea that Nigeria is killing Christians is unfounded. Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of terrorism and insecurity,” Kawu said.
He cited multiple incidents where Muslims were killed in terror attacks, including the 2014 Kano mosque bombing that claimed over 250 lives and the accidental airstrike in Kaduna that killed more than 100 worshippers during a Maulud celebration.
Another contributor, Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), called for a deeper understanding of the terrorist networks behind the violence, suggesting that the Senate hold a closed-door session to review Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy and strengthen diplomatic communication with Washington.
“Sanctions breed poverty, and poverty knows no religion. We must engage knowledge, develop a unified counterterrorism approach, and ensure the U.S. understands our reality,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, backed the motion, stressing that violence in Nigeria affects citizens across all faiths.
“When attacks occur in Christian-dominated communities, Christians die; when they happen in Muslim regions, Muslims are victims. Terrorists are not targeting religion, they are targeting Nigerians,” Akpabio said.
He said the Senate would support diplomatic efforts to engage the U.S. Congress and other international partners to provide a balanced, fact-based understanding of Nigeria’s situation.
Following deliberations, the Senate resolved to reject the blanket characterisation of Nigeria’s security crisis as a Christian genocide.
It also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide verified data and context-driven communication to counter misinformation.
It also prayed that “the Senate engage U.S. lawmakers, diplomatic missions, and international media to clarify facts through official briefings; and
“Mandate the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Information, and National Security to develop a coordinated national communications strategy with the Executive.”
Nigeria’s removal from the U.S. “Country of Particular Concern” list in 2021 is now being revisited by some American lawmakers who argue that violence against Christians has continued unabated.
However, Nigerian senators maintain that such assertions ignore the broader realities of insecurity affecting both Muslims and Christians nationwide.
“This is a time for Nigeria to speak for itself,” Ndume said in closing.
“We must correct this dangerous narrative before it damages our international standing and national unity.”
