FG to US: No Christain persecution… Nigeria fighting multiple security threats

The ministry of foreign affairs has dismissed concerns about an alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

On March 12, Wilfred Anagbe, a Catholic bishop, and Remigius Ihyula, a reverend father, appeared before the United States house foreign affairs committee (HFAC) to testify about militants killing or forcibly displacing Christian farmers in Benue.

The clergymen also claimed that there is an ongoing campaign of Islamisation in the country.

“They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from the elected authorities,” Anagbe had said before the committee.

“None of them have been arrested and brought to justice. This is supported by the corrupt system in which we operate and the abject poverty among us, which allow the criminals to easily attract more recruits and prey on more victims.”

The religious leaders added that they have become targets, with Anagbe alleging threats from the foreign ministry, cautioning him to “watch his words.”

Reacting on Thursday, the US Mission in Nigeria said it was disturbed by the reports of intimidation and threats against the clergymen.

“Freedom of expression is an essential human right and central to the function of democracy in Nigeria and the United States. No one should be subject to threats for exercising that right,” the mission said in a statement.

“We call on all actors to respect Bishop Anagbe’s and Father Remigius’s right to speak freely without fear of retribution or retaliation.”

‘CHRISTIANS NOT A TARGET, ALL NIGERIANS FACING SECURITY THREATS’

Responding to the issue in a statement posted via X on Saturday, the foreign ministry said the US mission’s stance is concerning.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the ministry, said the clergymen’s right to free speech is recognised, adding that their testimonies before the US lawmakers misrepresented facts and oversimplified a “deeply complex national challenge”.

Ebienfa said the assertion that the Nigerian government has allowed the violence to escalate unchecked is both “inaccurate and unfair”.

“The reality is that Nigeria is fighting multiple security threats, including banditry, terrorism, and organized crime, all of which affect different communities irrespective of religion,” the ministry’s spokesperson said.

He added that “Nigeria acknowledges the concerns raised but firmly rejects the portrayal of the situation as an Islamist extermination” of Christians by foreign governments.

“The Federal Government will continue to prioritise the protection of the lives and property of its citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, while strengthening national and international cooperation in the fight against insecurity,” Ebienfa said.

“Any report of threats or intimidation against religious leaders will be investigated, and appropriate action will be taken.

“The current administration values its partnership with the United States and other international allies in addressing security concerns and therefore calls for caution against narratives that risk deepening religious divisions and misrepresenting the situation on the ground but also enjoins well-meaning partners to join its efforts towards the maintenance of peace and security.”

He said Nigeria is willing to continue working with partners, including the US, to tackle security concerns but cautioned against narratives that risk deepening religious divisions and disrupting peace.

CALLS FOR NIGERIA TO BE ADDED BACK TO CPC LIST

Nigeria was first designated as a country of particular concern (CPC) in December 2020 by the US department of state due to frequent religious conflicts and attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

But the country was taken off the list in November 2021, a move that angered many human rights organisations.

In 2023, US lawmakers brought up a resolution asking then-President Joe Biden to re-list Nigeria as a CPC for “violations of religious freedom”.

Anagbe and Ihyula said they want to see President Donald Trump’s second administration reimpose the countries of particular concern designation on Nigeria.

Other activists clamouring for the addition believe that the CPC label could deter some of the violence, spur the Nigerian government into action, and perhaps even drastically reduce weapons shipments into the country.

According to Open Doors International, of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide for their faith in 2024, 3,100 of the killings happened in Nigeria.

The organisation listed Nigeria as number seven among 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.