The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has firmly rejected claims of a "Christian genocide" in Nigeria, urging former U.S. President Donald Trump to retract his statement labeling the country as "disgraced." The Council stressed that Nigeria's challenges are not religiously motivated but stem from poor governance, climate crises, and criminal activity affecting communities nationwide.In a statement signed by Secretary-General Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, NSCIA called on U.S. leaders to provide constructive support through intelligence sharing, logistics, and human capacity development. The Council highlighted that inflammatory statements only risk deepening divisions and undermining national cohesion.
NSCIA also described genocide claims as fabricated narratives driven by foreign interests, separatists, and local profiteers. Prof. Oloyede noted that some terrorist groups mistakenly labeled as "Islamic" were in fact funded or orchestrated by non-Muslim actors, citing allegations that organizations like Boko Haram received external backing.
The Council criticized the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for amplifying misleading claims, calling such actions "dangerous" while praising patriotic members who reject false narratives. Reports from Amnesty International and independent researchers were cited to show that the majority of violent incidents lack religious motivation, instead linked to poverty, banditry, and failed governance.
NSCIA also condemned the U.S. re-designation of Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern (CPC)", describing the move as politically motivated and influenced by lobbyists and evangelicals. The Council linked heightened foreign criticism to Nigeria's solidarity with Palestine and reaffirmation of the two-state solution, framing it as a geopolitical attempt to destabilize the nation.
Concluding, NSCIA reaffirmed national unity, stating: "There is no Christian genocide. There is no Muslim genocide. The Nigerian tragedy lies in poverty, climate change, and armed criminality." The Council urged the government to protect all citizens, fight terrorism, and counter divisive narratives, emphasizing that foreign misinformation will not define Nigeria's reality.
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