The Federal Government has warned of growing attempts by extremist groups to fuel religious tension and divide Nigerians along Christian-Muslim lines.
The alarm comes amid renewed concerns about security and unity in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Tinubu administration is actively working to protect every citizen regardless of faith.
He stressed that both Christians and Muslims are targets of violent extremists, contrary to claims that attacks are focused on one region or religion.
Speaking during an interview on CNN’s The Exchange, the minister stated that government remains committed to fostering religious harmony and national peace.
He noted: “We believe and I would reiterate that we do have security challenges in Nigeria, we are not denying this or asking for denial in that direction. But what we are saying is that we need to make Nigerians and the world believe that this government is actually working to ensure the security of lives of everyone, Christians, muslims living side by side with each other.”
Idris explained that extremist groups have struck both mosques and churches, proving that the crisis is not a religious war but a criminal attempt to destabilize the country. He added that portraying insecurity as a fight between Christians and Muslims is “absolutely false.”
He continued: “When you say that only a particular region is being targeted that is not true. We know that some of these Boko Haram extremists have targeted Muslims in the mosques, they have targeted Christians in their churches.”
The minister maintained that Nigeria remains a religiously tolerant nation, with citizens of different faiths living and working together at all levels of government.
“The Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to practice their religion whether you are a Christian or Muslim and in the hierarchy of our government there are both Christians and Muslims living harmoniously and working together,” he said.
He warned that extremists want the world to believe there is a religious conflict, adding that such narratives only serve their agenda to divide the country.
However, this statement comes at a time when fears of targeted killings against Christians in Nigeria have been gaining global attention.
POLITICS NIGERIA recently reported that concerns over a looming “Christian genocide” were raised by United States Senator Ted Cruz, who urged the international community to pay closer attention to religious-related attacks in the country.
The minister’s comments appear aimed at countering that narrative and reassuring Nigerians that government efforts are focused on protecting all citizens without bias, even as critics continue to demand stronger action from the authorities.
