𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬 — 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Nigeria upholds freedom of religion and remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of all citizens regardless of their beliefs, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said.

Speaking during an interview on CNN on Tuesday night, Idris dismissed claims by some foreign officials that terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians, describing the assertions as misleading and not reflective of the nation’s complex security situation.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister noted that such claims were based on faulty data and false assumptions.

“Some of the claims made by certain officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians. Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion — they target Christians and Muslims alike,” Idris stated.

He cautioned that such divisive narratives could aid the agenda of criminal elements seeking to ignite religious conflict in the country, emphasising that Nigeria remains a highly tolerant society where freedom of religion is enshrined in the constitution.

“Characterising it as attacks on Christians will drive Nigeria towards division. The criminals want to portray the country as if there is a fight between Christians and Muslims. We have seen attacks on Christians, and we have also seen attacks on Muslims,” he said.

The minister further stressed that it was wrong to portray Nigeria as a nation that does not tolerate religious freedom or one that is unsafe for believers of any faith.

Idris acknowledged that security challenges exist but said the Tinubu administration is addressing them with renewed focus and commitment. “There is a massive drive by the government to ensure that Nigeria is ultimately safe for everyone,” he added.

He explained that while Nigeria has faced insecurity since 2009, significant progress has been recorded in recent years, particularly through the improved funding of the military and enhanced intelligence operations.

“In the last two years, there has been renewed focus and attention on ensuring that Nigeria becomes safe. We have a massive deployment of resources to strengthen our security forces and improve military hardware,” Idris noted.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s dedication to promoting peace, unity, and mutual respect among all citizens, saying Nigeria will continue to stand as a beacon of religious coexistence and harmony in Africa.