The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has strongly dismissed claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria, insisting that the nation’s main security challenge remains terrorism and banditry, not religious intolerance.
Speaking with reporters on Monday in Abuja, General Oluyede described as “misleading and inaccurate” the recent comments by former United States President Donald Trump, who alleged that Islamic terrorists were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria. The Defence Chief maintained that the security crises in the country affect all citizens, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“There are no Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” General Oluyede said. “We are facing insecurity, especially terrorism, and it’s something that has been affecting Nigeria for quite some time now. These criminals do not discriminate. Their targets include Muslims, Christians, and other groups alike. The problem is terrorism, not religion.”
Oluyede emphasized that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to defeating terrorism and restoring peace across all regions. He noted that the Nigerian military, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has intensified operations against insurgents, kidnappers, and other criminal elements undermining national stability.
“The Armed Forces have been working relentlessly to combat terrorism and improve national security,” he said. “You will recall that just last week, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, recalibrated the security architecture by bringing on board officers of proven integrity who are seasoned in asymmetric warfare to add impetus to our operations.”
According to him, the recent shake-up in the military high command reflects the government’s determination to strengthen coordination among the services and improve operational efficiency in counterterrorism efforts.
The Defence Chief further assured Nigerians that ongoing campaigns in the North-East, North-West, and other troubled areas would be sustained and expanded. “We’re going to add more to what we’re doing, add more impetus to our operations, and ensure that we checkmate this act of terrorism within Nigeria,” he said.
General Oluyede also highlighted that terrorism is a global phenomenon and not peculiar to Nigeria. He called for stronger international collaboration to tackle the threat, noting that countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and even parts of Europe face similar security challenges.
“Terrorism is a global issue that requires international cooperation,” he explained. “There are several countries that are challenged in that respect, and it calls for collective effort. So if we have countries out there who are ready to support Nigeria, we are ready to have them on board to help us checkmate the act of terrorism within our space.”
The CDS reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians and urged citizens to reject divisive narratives that could undermine national unity. “We are committed to restoring peace and stability nationwide. Nigerians and our international partners should continue to support our counterterrorism operations,” he appealed.
Oluyede’s remarks came in response to comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform over the weekend. In his post, Trump claimed that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria and warned that the U.S. might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings continued.
Trump’s statement read: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing.’”
The post sparked widespread backlash in Nigeria and beyond, with many political leaders, diplomats, and religious organizations condemning it as inflammatory and uninformed. Critics accused Trump of attempting to reignite religious tensions in Africa’s most populous nation, where decades of coexistence between Muslims and Christians remain central to national unity.
In the wake of the controversy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued an official response reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, religious freedom, and mutual respect among faiths. Through a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, President Tinubu emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens, and his administration continues to engage religious leaders across the spectrum to promote peace and harmony.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President stated. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
Tinubu rejected what he called “foreign narratives” that portray Nigeria as religiously intolerant, insisting that such depictions are inconsistent with the country’s historical and social realities.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” he added.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s unity in diversity, the President declared that religious tolerance “has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.” He further assured Nigerians and the international community that his administration would continue to collaborate with global partners, including the United States, to foster peace, deepen mutual understanding, and protect the rights of all religious communities.
Diplomatic analysts have noted that the timing of Trump’s remarks is particularly sensitive, given Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S.–Nigeria relations under Tinubu’s government. The two nations have been collaborating closely on counterterrorism, economic development, and democratic governance. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Trump’s statement as “unhelpful,” warning that it could misrepresent the complex security realities in Nigeria and undermine joint counterterrorism initiatives.
Religious leaders across Nigeria have also weighed in. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) both reaffirmed that the violence in parts of the country is driven largely by criminality, poverty, and local conflicts — not a religious agenda. They commended the military for its continued efforts to protect citizens and called for greater international understanding of Nigeria’s multi-religious society.
Security experts agree that while Nigeria faces serious threats from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), these groups have targeted both Muslim and Christian communities indiscriminately. Analysts stress that framing the conflict as “religious persecution” oversimplifies the issue and distracts from the broader challenge of terrorism, governance, and economic inequality.
General Oluyede’s firm rebuttal, therefore, reflects not only the military’s position but also the government’s broader diplomatic stance. His remarks reinforce Nigeria’s official narrative that the fight against terrorism is a national, not sectarian, struggle.
As the Tinubu administration continues to recalibrate national security and strengthen international alliances, the government has reiterated its readiness to engage the global community constructively. President Tinubu’s advisers say his administration remains open to dialogue with the United States and other partners but will resist any narrative that seeks to stigmatize Nigeria’s religious coexistence.
In the words of the Chief of Defence Staff, “Nigeria is united in its fight against terrorism. Our enemies are criminals, not Christians or Muslims. Together, we will defeat them and restore lasting peace across our nation.”
With that assurance, General Oluyede reaffirmed the resolve of the Armed Forces to uphold national unity, defend constitutional freedoms, and ensure that every Nigerian — regardless of faith or background — can live free from fear and insecurity.
