Nigeria denies state policy of religious violence amid US genocide claims
Nigeria's government has explicitly denied having any official policy that permits religious violence or targets religious groups. In a statement signed by Minister Mohammed Idris, the government reiterated that Nigeria's security crisis stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal tensions, not government policy or religious bias. This response comes after a US Congress report renewed allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing it as the 'deadliest country to be Christian' and calling for sanctions against perpetrators. The Nigerian government countered that its constitution guarantees religious freedom for all citizens and emphasized ongoing security efforts that have degraded armed groups and disrupted kidnapping networks. The government also noted it remains open to constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and constitutional sovereignty. This marks the latest in Nigeria's repeated denials of Christian genocide claims since late 2025, following previous rebuttals to US lawmakers and President Trump's Country of Particular Concern designation.