The Federal Government has rejected the stance of the US Congress on “the persecution” of Christians. Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“It is important to state clearly that Nigeria does not have, and has never had, a state policy of religious persecution,” the minister said.
“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.”
On Monday, the United States House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs submitted a report to the White House detailing their findings and recommendations regarding the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The report follows President Donald Trump’s move to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
The president had tasked Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole with leading a thorough investigation into the reported targeting of Christian communities by terrorists, as well as the wider security challenges facing Nigeria.
Moore said the US team now has a clear understanding of Nigeria’s security threats and the alleged persecution of Christians. He encouraged the Nigerian government to use the findings as an opportunity to strengthen its ties with the United States.
However, the Federal Government said while Nigeria battles insecurity, the country’s Constitution “guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all citizens.
“The Federal Government remains firmly committed to upholding these constitutional protections and to ensuring equal protection under the law”.
It said efforts are ongoing “to improve humanitarian response for internally displaced persons, facilitate the safe return of affected communities, and promote community-based peacebuilding initiatives that foster sustainable coexistence”.