The Nigerian government has strongly rejected recent accusations made by some international media outlets and social media influencers, which claim that a genocide is being carried out against Christians by terrorists operating within Nigeria. These allegations, the government insists, are misleading and untrue, and they misrepresent the nature of the country’s security challenges.

One of the key figures making these allegations is American comedian and commentator Bill Maher, who claimed that over 500,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in a single year, labeling it as a genocide worse than the conflict in Gaza. Similarly, World Watch Monitor, a Christian-focused news organization, has stated that Nigeria accounts for between 60% to 90% of global Christian deaths over the past twelve years, making it the deadliest country for Christians.

In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, issued a firm statement condemning the claims as false, inflammatory, and divisive. According to Idris, depicting the country’s complex security situation as a deliberate, targeted campaign against Christians is a gross oversimplification. He emphasized that this narrative not only misinforms the global audience but also serves the interests of terrorist groups by stoking religious and ethnic tensions.

The Nigerian government clarified that terrorist activities in the country do not discriminate based on religion. Both Muslims and Christians, along with individuals who do not follow any religion, have suffered from attacks by terrorist groups. The violence, according to the government, is rooted in broader issues such as ideology, criminality, and regional instability, rather than religious persecution alone.

Highlighting ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the government reported significant progress in the fight against terrorism. From May 2023 to February 2025, over 13,000 terrorists and criminals were neutralized, and nearly 10,000 hostages were rescued through military operations. The government cited the recent capture of top leaders of ANSARU, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, as evidence of the effectiveness of these efforts.

Furthermore, the government noted its commitment to accountability and rule of law, mentioning court martials and prosecutions of security personnel for misconduct. It also pointed out that Christians currently hold top leadership roles in both the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police, underscoring the inclusivity of national leadership and the absence of religious bias.

Nigeria, the government reiterated, is a religiously diverse country with significant populations of both Muslims and Christians, including some of the largest religious congregations globally. Christianity is neither endangered nor systematically targeted within the country.

To further support its stance, the government highlighted the international recognition of Nigerian efforts toward interfaith peace. In March, two Nigerian religious leaders were awarded the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize for their decades-long work in promoting interfaith harmony—an achievement Nigeria says reflects its true story of resilience, coexistence, and peacebuilding.

Minister Idris concluded by urging international commentators and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified and divisive information. He called on them to adopt a more responsible and fact-based approach when reporting on Nigeria, and to support the country’s ongoing battle against terrorism and insecurity.