Shehu Sani rejects Trump’s genocide claim, says Nigeria faces shared security crisis

Shehu Sani rejects Trump’s genocide claim, says Nigeria faces shared security crisis

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has strongly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged Christian genocide, describing the claim as false, divisive, and rooted in misinformation.

Trump’s statement, issued on Friday, placed Nigeria among nations accused of persecuting Christians—an assertion that has sparked backlash from Nigerian leaders who argue it oversimplifies the country’s complex security landscape.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sani dismissed the genocide claim as “outrightly false, misleading, and mischievous,” warning that such narratives risk deepening divisions in an already fragile society.

“There is absolutely no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” Sani declared. “The violence and killings in Nigeria have affected both Muslims and Christians equally. Terrorists and bandits do not discriminate along religious lines.”

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He emphasized that over the past 15 years, Nigeria’s security challenges have stemmed from indiscriminate attacks by extremist groups, with many Muslim-majority regions bearing the brunt of the violence. “Muslims have actually suffered more casualties due to the geographical concentration of terrorist activities,” he noted, citing recent affirmations by the U.S. Envoy in Nigeria.

Sani also criticized U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s proposed bill targeting individuals enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, calling it “a direct and unjust attack on the legal and religious values of Nigerian Muslims.”

“Nigeria is a sovereign nation,” he said. “No foreign power has the right to dictate how Nigerians choose to govern themselves or practice their faith. If such laws are acceptable in countries like Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, why should Nigeria be treated differently?”

He accused the U.S. of double standards, pointing to recent domestic censorship and restrictions on dissent within the United States. “You cannot preach freedom abroad while practicing autocracy at home,” he argued.

Calling the U.S. designation “unconscionable and unacceptable,” Sani urged Washington to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism rather than impose punitive measures. He also condemned local actors who, he claimed, spread falsehoods for political gain.

“Those who export lies about their own country for personal advantage should consider the damage they cause. You can’t stain your country with faeces and expect the world to revere you,” he said.

Despite the controversy, Sani expressed optimism about Nigeria’s resilience: “Nigeria will overcome its challenges,” he affirmed.

Shehu Sani rejects Trump’s genocide claim, says Nigeria faces shared security crisis