The Federal Government of Nigeria has rebuffed recent allegations by several United States lawmakers that Christians in Nigeria are facing systematic genocide, stating the claims are grounded on inaccurate and misleading data.

During an interview on CNN, Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the figures and assumptions underlying the U.S. lawmakers’ demands for diplomatic action “do not reflect the complexity of Nigeria’s security situation.”

Idris emphasised that while “yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion — they attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”

He warned that framing violence in Nigeria solely as a religious war between Christians and Muslims “will drive Nigeria towards unnecessary division … The criminals want to portray the situation as a fight between Christians and Muslims.”

The minister reiterated that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the government remains committed to protecting citizens of all faiths.
He expressed concern that misleading narratives from abroad could distort international perception and hamper cooperative efforts to address insecurity.

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While the government maintains its position, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has maintained that many Christian‑majority communities, especially in the North, continue to suffer deadly attacks and that the narrative of persecution should not be dismissed.