The spokesperson to the Nigerian President, Bayo Onanuga, made this appeal on Saturday morning, while commenting on the decision of the United States to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
The Bola Tinubu-led presidency has appealed to the United States to deploy its military to help Nigeria fight terrorism in some states of the federation.
The spokesperson to the Nigerian President, Bayo Onanuga, made this appeal on Saturday morning, while commenting on the decision of the United States to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
Onanuga wrote,"Dear Secretary Rubio, there is no ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria."
"This is a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation. What we do have are sporadic attacks on some villages by bandits and terrorists, and the attacks are religiously insensitive. Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly."
"What our country requires from America is military support to fight these violent extremists in some states of our country, not designation as a nation of particular concern."
His comments come as Nigeria rejected its U.S. designation as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
This is even as the Nigerian government dismissed remarks by United States President Donald Trump alleging widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria and designating the country a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement issued on Saturday morning by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government described the allegations as inaccurate and unreflective of the reality on the ground.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” the statement read.
“These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” the ministry stated.
The government said that while it “appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom,” the allegations of persecution were “not supported by facts.”
Reaffirming its commitment under President Tinubu, the ministry said Nigeria “remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.”
It added that the country would “continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.”
On Friday, Trump noted that in response to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, he had redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
He had announced the decision on his Truth Social media platform.
"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," Trump posted to Truth Social."Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN' — But that is the least of it," he posted.
Trump further noted that he has directed Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and report their findings to him.
"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries," Trump said."We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!"
Previously, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had expressed deep concern over the persistent violence and insecurity affecting Christians in several parts of the country, especially in the North, saying many communities have suffered “severe attacks, loss of life, and destruction of places of worship.”
In a press release made available to SaharaReporters, CAN said the scale of killings and displacement facing Christians had reached alarming proportions and demanded urgent, transparent action from the government and security agencies.
The body’s statement also comes amid concerns raised by senators in the United States, who say Christians are being targeted by killings in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government, however, has repeatedly denied such claims.
Earlier, U.S. lawmaker Riley M. Moore called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.
