Again, FG rejects US CPC tag, citing non-sectarian laws, security successes

The Federal Government of Nigeria has, again, challenged the United States’ designation of the country as a nation promoting religious persecution, insisting that the characterization is based on a profound misunderstanding of Nigeria’s legal structure and the nature of its security crisis.

During a diplomatic briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday, Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the Nigerian state does not target any group based on faith, and maintained that claims of religious persecution “misrepresented the country’s legal and social framework.”

Ahmed clarified that Nigeria’s national laws are explicitly religion-neutral and are designed to protect all communities equally. He further stated that there was no offence of blasphemy in the national legal framework, adding that Shari’a laws applicable in some northern states applied only to Muslims and operated under the supervision of the secular judicial system.

He summarized the status of religious coexistence, affirming: “Christian and Muslim institutions continue to operate freely, promoting peaceful coexistence.”Echoing this dismissal, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed journalists, faulting the US designation, describing it as a product of “misrepresentation and misinformation.”

Idris stressed that the violence plaguing the nation is not sectarian but criminal. “Criminal activities and terrorism do not target any particular religious group. This is not about religion, it is about crime,” he maintained.

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To counter the narrative of insecurity, the Minister presented comprehensive statistics on the ongoing counter-terrorism operations under the current administration. He stated that since President Bola Tinubu took office, security agencies have achieved significant milestones:

“Since May 2023, when he (Tinubu) took office, Nigeria’s security agencies have neutralised more than 13,500 terrorists through sustained operations, and they have arrested over 17,000 suspects who are now undergoing interrogation and prosecution for various offences.”

He added to the list of successes: “Also, more than 9,850 people abducted by these terrorists, including women and children, have been rescued and reintegrated with their families.” He then reiterated the Federal Government’s core belief regarding the victims: “It is important to note that the menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group.”

Idris concluded by noting that President Tinubu is actively engaging diplomatic channels to address the concerns raised by Washington and to correct what he described as a “misjudgment of Nigeria’s reality.”

The Minister extended an invitation for continued global partnership, stating: “The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the international community, including the United States and other partners, to achieve the shared goal of completely eliminating terrorism and violent extremism on Nigerian soil. The President has pledged to ensure that all those making the country unsafe are permanently removed.”

He emphasized the President’s direct involvement in resolving the diplomatic rift: “Regarding the current misrepresentation of Nigeria’s security situation by the United States, President Tinubu is taking the lead in addressing all areas of misunderstanding through diplomatic and political channels.”

While acknowledging the country’s challenges, Idris concluded with a call for informed cooperation: “While we welcome collaboration, assistance, and partnership from all foreign allies, including the United States, Nigeria is not denying that we face serious security challenges. We invite all our partners and friends to join us in understanding our situation and supporting our efforts to eliminate this menace.”

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