The federal government rejected claims made by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja’s social media posts and testified by two Nigerian religious leaders at a hearing in the U.S. Congress, saying they were inaccurate and falsely stated Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to resolve security and religious tensions.
In a press statement signed by Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government responded to concerns raised by the U.S. Embassy Post, which mentioned Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Rev. Remigius Ihyula on religious persecution in Nigeria.
“The Foreign Ministry is concerned about the latest social media publication of the U.S. Embassy Abuja on the security situation in Nigeria and the testimony provided by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Remigius Ihyula, which are about unfortunate threats that have drawn testimony from people due to their religious announcements known in the Religious Council.
“Despite the facts of their testimony falsely stated and the simplification of the deep national challenges of the nation, religious leaders have the right to their views, freedom of speech and relevance to the Nigerian Constitution.”
The ministry said it was “inaccurate and unfair” to assert that the Nigerian government “allows violence to escalate unrestrictedly”.
“The government has been taking decisive actions, including deploying security forces to areas affected by community violence, engaging in peacebuilding efforts between farmers and herders, strengthening intelligence operations to track criminals and implementing policies that address root causes, including land use reform and economic development initiatives,” it said.
“It is important to point out that despite the challenges still exist, it suggests that the Nigerian government has been inactive or indifferent. The reality is that Nigeria is fighting multiple security threats including gangsters, terrorism and organized crime, all of which affect different communities, regardless of religion, Nigeria will affect different communities.”
The statement reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constitutional rights, adding that the Government remains fully committed to safeguarding “religious freedom and freedom of expression and other freedoms” and ensure that “the report on threats or intimidation from religious leaders will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken and appropriate action will be taken.”
In recognizing concerns expressed at the Congressional hearing, the ministry rejected what it called “the description of the crisis as “the extinction of Christians of Islam.”
“The government will continue to prioritize the lives and property of its citizens regardless of faith or race, while strengthening international and international cooperation to resist insecurity.
“We therefore call for responsible reporting to reflect the full complexity of the challenges at hand and to promote constructive dialogue rather than polarization.”
