Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and nationalorientation, says foreign lobbyists are fuelling the narrative of a “Christiangenocide” in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Idrissaid the government’s findings point to a network of external actors,particularly in the United States, deliberately promoting divisive andmisleading portrayals of Nigeria’s internal security challenges. “Nigerian government has been able to see a correlationbetween some of the lobbyists operating especially in the US and the activitieshere (in Nigeria),” he said. “Some of the influencers of these activities have directrelationship with lobbyists in the US, who have direct relationship with someof the people shouting about this issue (Christian genocide claims) outsidethis country.” Idris said while the administration recognises thatinsecurity has affected many communities, there is no evidence to supportclaims of systematic targeting of any religious group in the country. BACKGROUND On November 1, US President Donald Trump redesignatedNigeria as a “country of particular concern (CPC)” over alleged killing ofChristians in the country. Trump also warned the Nigerian government to curb thealleged attacks or he would make good his threat to stop all US aid andassistance to the country. He threatened to unleash the department of war on Nigeria tofight the terrorists “that attack our cherished Christians”. Prior to Trump’s comments, some US lawmakers had asked MarcoRubio, secretary of state, to take decisive diplomatic action against theNigerian government over the “systematic persecution and slaughter ofChristians”. ‘NIGERIA NOT TARGETING ANY RELIGIOUS GROUP’But the information minister said any narrative suggestingthat the Nigerian government does not take action against religious attacks is“misinformation” or premised on “faculty data”. Idris blamed the country’s security situation on the“volatile” security situation in the Sahel region. The information minister said the federal government isready to work closely with the US and other “friendly” countries and partnersto achieve “complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil”. “It is important to restate that the menace of terrorism inNigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group,” he said. “As in many parts of the world, extremism is mindless, blindto religion, tribe, or class. It is a war against all peace-loving Nigeriansand against the unity and progress of our great nation. “Therefore, any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian Stateis failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformationor faulty data. “Several leading personnel of the very dedicated ArmedForces of Nigeria and the country’s intelligence agencies are Christians,working and succeeding alongside their Muslim colleagues in the fight againstextremists and criminals waging war against our country and values. “The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to workclosely with the Government of the United States, other friendly nations andpartners, to achieve our shared goal — the complete elimination of terrorism onNigerian soil.”
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