Nigeria rejects US religious freedom designation, says it is based on ‘faulty data’

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By Camillus Eboh and Elisha Bala-Gbogbo

ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria’s government rejected on Wednesday its designation by the United States as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious freedom violations, saying the move was based on misinformation and faulty data.

President Donald Trump last week put Nigeria back on a list of countries that the U.S. says have violated religious freedom, and said on Saturday he had asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military action if Nigeria does not crack down on the killing of Christians.

Washington’s decision to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedoms has strained diplomatic ties between the two countries.

THREATS OF MILITARY ACTION UNWARRANTED, MINISTER SAYS

Defending Nigeria’s record, Information Minister Mohammed Idris told a press briefing that Trump’s threats of military action were unwarranted and misrepresented Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

“…any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian State is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformation or faulty data,” Idris said.

Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede said on Monday the country faced terrorism, not persecution of Christians, and the Nigerian presidency has said it would welcome U.S. help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as the country’s territorial integrity is respected.

Idris said President Bola Tinubu’s government had made significant progress in tackling terrorism since taking office in May 2023.

“The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the Government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal, the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil,” Idris said.

More than 13,500 militants have been killed, 17,000 suspects arrested, and over 11,200 hostages — including women and children — rescued, he said.

Idris said terrorism affected both Christians and Muslims, and that the government is committed to ending extremist violence through military action, regional cooperation and dialogue with international partners.

Nigeria, home to more than 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam and traditional faiths, has a history of coexistence but has also seen sporadic violence, often driven by ethnic tensions and competition over scarce resources.

(Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo, Editing by Timothy Heritage)