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Following months of denial and propaganda to quell genocide narratives, the Nigerian Government has finally acknowledged there is a targeted killings of Christians in the country.
The Nigerian government through the minister of information, Mohammed Idris, has overtime refuted reports that terrorists operating in the country are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians.
It said such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.
“The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community. These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands,” he said.
The government has also criticized international media and commentators for sensationalizing the issue, urging them to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts instead.
This is despite the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) accussing the government of downplaying the severity of attacks on Christians, citing reports of over 4,000 Christians killed in Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna states since January.
CAN insists that the government should acknowledge the targeted violence and take urgent action to protect Christian communities.
However, the government seems to have finally swallowed the pills and acknowledge genocidal killings following the U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.
In a joint statement released at the end of the meeting, Participants including Nigerian Government emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, particularly members of vulnerable Christian communities, and holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
Both sides re-affirmed their commitment to further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, including by working together through operational cooperation, access to technology, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and building law enforcement and investigative capacity.
The Working Group was established in response to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by President Donald Trump under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Working in close partnership, the objectives of the Working Group are to reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians, and to create a conducive atmosphere for all Nigerians to freely practice their faith unimpeded by terrorists and those who otherwise wish to inflict harm on civilians regardless of faith.
