Nigerian FM refutes Trump’s allegations of killing Christians
(MENAFN) Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar rejected US President Donald Trump’s allegations regarding the killing of Christians in the country, cautioning against rhetoric that could deepen divisions along religious or ethnic lines.
At a news conference in Berlin on Tuesday, Tuggar presented a document titled Nigeria’s Constitutional Commitment to Religious Freedom and Rule of Law, emphasizing that the constitution guarantees protection for religious freedom.
“This is what shows it’s impossible for there to be a religious persecution that can be supported in any way, shape or form by the government of Nigeria at any level,” he stated during a joint briefing with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Trump recently designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and warned of potential actions to “protect” Christians, claiming that “record numbers” are being killed in Africa’s most populous nation.
The move followed a request from US Congressman Riley Moore, who alleged that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria this year, with hundreds more kidnapped, tortured, or displaced by extremist groups. Senator Ted Cruz also accused Nigerian authorities of enabling a “massacre” against Christians and introduced legislation aimed at targeting responsible officials with sanctions. According to Cruz, 50,000 Christians have died in Nigeria since 2009, and 2,000 schools along with 18,000 churches have been destroyed by “Islamist jihadists.”
Nigerian officials have acknowledged ongoing security challenges in the country, particularly those linked to groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
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