violence against Christians in Nigeria
The Nigerian government has rejected a claim by U.S. officials that Christians in the country are being subjected to mass slaughter, insisting that Muslims also face violence and dominance of the narrative undermines unity. On October 31, 2025, the U.S. announced that Nigeria would be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” on religious freedom, citing alleged widespread killings of Christians. In response, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, addressed the U.S. Secretary of State and disputed the claims, saying there is no ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.
Onanuga stated directly: “Dear Secretary Rubio, there is no ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria. This is a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation. What we do have are sporadic attacks on some villages by bandits and terrorists, and the attacks are religiously insensitive. Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly.” He said the country requires military support from the U.S. to fight violent extremists rather than being placed on a “designation” list.
The government’s rebuttal comes amid growing international concern about violence in Nigeria’s north and central regions, where multiple faiths suffer from attacks by insurgents, bandits and communal militias. One analysis notes that while Christians have undoubtedly been victimised, Muslims in certain zones are reported to be the majority of victims in recent years and the violence lacks the clear intent to destroy one religious group, making it not align with the United Nations definition of genocide. Nigerian officials emphasise that the country is multi-religious and that Christians and Muslims live and worship side by side, with high-level representation of both faiths in government and security services.
The tension reflects a clash between external narratives and internal policy views. U.S. lawmakers such as Ted Cruz and Riley M. Moore have called Nigeria the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” claiming thousands of killings and thousands of destroyed churches. The Nigerian response is that these claims are based on incomplete, de-contextualised data and risk driving religious division rather than addressing the root security issues.
For Nigerian authorities, the key priority is combating terrorism, banditry and communal violence that affects all citizens, regardless of faith. They argue that singling out one religion may distort the complex security landscape and hamper national unity efforts. The government says that the root causes are often poverty, marginalisation, weak institutions and arms proliferation, not exclusively religious persecution. Meanwhile, victims and civil society groups continue to call for better data, accountability and protection for vulnerable communities.
In summary, the statement by Bayo Onanuga and the Nigerian presidency firmly rejects the idea that Christians alone are being systematically slaughtered in Nigeria. It emphasises that violence affects both Christians and Muslims, and that the problem is broader than religious targeting. The dialogue between Nigeria and the U.S. over this matter remains tense, with both sides calling for deeper investigation and clearer facts.
