No Christian Genocide in Nigeria, Only Terrorism — Tinubu Tells NASFAT Conference

No Christian Genocide in Nigeria, Only Terrorism — Tinubu Tells NASFAT Conference

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that Nigeria is not experiencing genocide against Christians, insisting that the country’s security challenges are the result of terrorism and criminality, not religious persecution.

Tinubu made the clarification on Friday while declaring open the 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The conference, themed “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community,” brought together religious leaders, scholars and stakeholders from across the country.

Addressing concerns over recent claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, including comments reportedly attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump, Tinubu said such allegations were false, harmful and capable of inflaming religious tensions.

“In recent times, the Federal Government of Nigeria and people of goodwill have had to respond to unfounded allegations. These claims are not only false but dangerous to our peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The President stressed that Nigeria’s security crisis is rooted in historical, economic and criminal factors, not religion, noting that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from attacks by terrorists.

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“As President, I reiterate with all sense of responsibility that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, and there is no Muslim genocide. What we face is terrorism driven by criminality and extremism, which this administration is working tirelessly to defeat,” Tinubu said.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to religious freedom, national unity and the protection of all citizens, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives that threaten peace and cohesion.

Tinubu also highlighted ongoing economic reforms, aimed at stabilising the economy, attracting investment and creating jobs. While acknowledging the temporary hardships associated with these reforms, he assured Nigerians that measures were being implemented to ease the pressure and expand social support systems.

The President praised NASFAT for promoting moderation, tolerance and service to humanity, noting that faith-based organisations play a critical role in countering misinformation and strengthening national resilience.

In his keynote address, Dr Nurudeen Lemu urged Muslims and Nigerians at large to remain steadfast, patient and hopeful despite current challenges, calling for stronger interfaith cooperation to support good governance and socio-economic development.

Also speaking, Prof. Ishiaq Oloyede, Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, described NASFAT as one of Nigeria’s leading Islamic organisations, capable of achieving even greater impact in promoting peace and development.

No Christian Genocide in Nigeria, Only Terrorism — Tinubu Tells NASFAT Conference