Partner Nigeria to fight terrorism instead of relying on inaccurate narratives – Keyamo tells Trump

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to US President DonaldTrump to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism rather than rely on what he described as inaccurate external narratives.

This was as he has debunked Trump’s claims alleging mass or targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, insisting that such accusations do not reflect the realities in the country.

Keyamo issued the rebuttal in an open letter posted Wednesday on his verified X handle.

According to the minister, he was born and raised as a Christian, reminding Trump of his decades-long activism, including receiving the Global Human Rights Award in Washington in 2017 from the United States Global Leadership Council.

He maintained that, contrary to the allegations circulating internationally, Christians in Nigeria are not specifically targeted for persecution or killing on the basis of their faith.

“It would have been unconscionable for me to serve in any government that targets Christians.

“It is simply not true that Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria for persecution, killings, or harassment on account of their faith,” Keyamo wrote.

He added that Nigeria, like many nations, has faced violence from extremist and criminal groups such as Boko Haram, armed herdsmen, and cattle rustlers.

The minister said these security challenges predate the current administration and have affected citizens of all religious backgrounds.

Keyamo added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite being Muslim, is widely regarded as a moderate leader with strong ties to the Christian community. He noted that Tinubu’s wife is a pastor in a major Pentecostal church, while many of his children are practising Christians.

He stressed that many of the service chiefs appointed by the president are Christians, arguing that it would be illogical to claim they were complicit in any faith-based killings.

“Nigeria is a secular state. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the adoption of a state religion. The insecurity experienced in some regions has affected adherents of all faiths, and the government has never shielded one group at the expense of another,” he added.