Nigeria has reacted to the joint report from the United States House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees on the alleged persecution of Christians in the West African country.
The report contained recommendations that included a
bilateral agreement proposal, the lawmakers sai, whichd would tackle the “persecution
and slaughter of Nigerian Christians”.
Nigeria has repeatedly rejected claims of targeted Christian
killings in the country.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Mohammed Idris, minister of
information and national orientation, acknowledged the persistence of “serious
security challenges” that have tragically affected “many communities” but
maintained that “Nigeria does not have, and has never had, a state policy of
religious persecution”.
“The violence being confronted by our security agencies is
not driven by government policy or religious bias, but by complex security
threats, including terrorism, organised criminality, and longstanding communal
tensions,” the statement reads.
Idris noted efforts that Nigeria has undertaken to boost
security measures.
He said the federal government has significantly
strengthened coordinated military and law enforcement operations across
affected regions.
“Ongoing counter-terrorism offensives have degraded the
capacity of armed groups, disrupted kidnapping networks, and led to the arrest
and neutralisation of key criminal elements,” he said.
“Intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration have
been enhanced to improve early warning and rapid response mechanisms,
particularly in vulnerable rural communities.”
The minister noted that the government has intensified
surveillance and clearance operations in forested areas long exploited by
criminal groups, deploying specially trained forest guards to improve
territorial control and strengthen community-level security presence.
“These efforts are complemented by increased investment in
equipment, mobility assets, and technology to support the Armed Forces and
other security agencies,” the statement added.
Idris added that efforts are also ongoing to improve
humanitarian response for internally displaced persons, facilitate the safe
return of affected communities, and promote community-based peace-building
initiatives.
The minister said Nigeria remains open to constructive
dialogue and cooperation rooted in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and
recognition of its constitutional framework and sovereignty.
He noted that the country values its partnership with the US
and would continue to engage international partners through appropriate
diplomatic channels while remaining focused on protecting all Nigerians.
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