The Nigerian government has firmly rejected recent assertions made by the United States Embassy regarding religious persecution and security challenges in the country, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to protecting religious freedom and ensuring national security.
In a press statement released Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government described testimonies given by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula during a U.S. Congressional hearing as a “misrepresentation of facts” and a distortion of the country’s complex security landscape.
While acknowledging the religious leaders’ right to freely express their views, the Ministry stressed that depictions of government inaction are “inaccurate and unjust.”
“The claim that the Nigerian government has allowed violence to escalate unchecked is both inaccurate and unfair,” the statement read.
The government outlined a number of interventions it has undertaken to address insecurity, including the deployment of security forces to vulnerable regions, peace-building initiatives between farmers and herders, intelligence-driven operations, and socioeconomic policy reforms aimed at reducing the root causes of conflict.
Officials further clarified that Nigeria’s security threats—from terrorism and banditry to organized crime—impact citizens across religious and ethnic lines, not limited to one faith or community.
Refuting descriptions of the violence as an “Islamist extermination” of Christians, the Ministry asserted that the government remains committed to protecting all Nigerians, regardless of religion. It added that any credible allegations of threats or intimidation toward religious leaders would be thoroughly investigated.
Finally, Nigeria urged its international partners to adopt a more nuanced understanding of the country’s challenges and to contribute constructively to peace and cohesion.
“We value our partnership with the United States and other allies,” the Ministry stated, “but it is imperative that reporting reflects the complexity of our situation rather than deepen divisions.
