The Nigerian Senate poised to open a debate on a motion seeking to address what it calls “dangerous misrepresentations” of the country’s security crisis as a campaign of “Christian genocide,” saying the violence not religious.
In the last couple of days, the narrative that violence aimed at targeting Christians, has gained fraction globally, especially in the United States.
It was gathered that the motion, titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities,” is sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) and co-sponsored by several senior lawmakers, including Senators Sani Musa, Magatakarda Wamako, Ibrahim Bomai, and Ahmed Wadada.
According to the motion, Nigeria’s insecurity stems from terrorism, insurgency, banditry, communal conflicts, and criminal violence — all of which have claimed lives across religious, ethnic, and regional lines.
It was gathered in the motion,Senators raised alarm over the misleading narratives.
In the draft motion, it was gathered that Ndume specifically expressed alarm over what he described as a growing wave of misleading claims in both local and foreign media alleging systematic attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
He was said to have acknowledging the devastating assaults suffered by Christian communities, the lawmaker stressed that violent attacks have affected citizens of all faiths. He warned that framing the crisis in purely religious terms could inflame sectarian tensions and distort international understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
The Upper chamber, it was gathered, also expressed unease about developments in United States, where some lawmakers are pushing to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged religious persecution.
According the Lawmakers, such a designation could damage Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and trigger economic consequences. The motion reaffirmed that the Nigerian government is constitutionally obligated to protect the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
As part of measure to counter the growing international narrative, the Senate is proposing a coordinated communication and diplomatic strategy. Key elements include such as engaging US lawmakers and diaspora networks through official briefings and fact-based publications, releasing verified data and investigative reports to clarify casualty figures and contexts, and strengthening collaboration between the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security, and Information with relevant ministries to shape Nigeria’s international messaging.
Others strategies include urging local media, civil society, and religious leaders to exercise restraint and accuracy in public statements to avoid stoking sectarian division, just as the chamber also called on foreign embassies, international organisations, and media outlets to rely on balanced and credible information, rather than unverified claims, when reporting on religiously sensitive matters in Nigeria.
Recall that recently, the American government recently reiterated its “deep concern” over targeted attacks on Christians and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria. The statement came after prominent American TV host Bill Maher devoted part of his HBO show to what he called a “silent genocide” against Christians in the country.
Maher in the statement accused the Western media of ignoring mass killings by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Fulani militias, citing claims that more than 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and thousands of churches destroyed.
His comments attracted support from Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who said the crisis had not received the attention it deserves from the global media.
Recall that recently too, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while reacting to the growing debate, dismissed the “Christian genocide” narrative as false and divisive.
Idris, who said that terrorist groups target Nigerians indiscriminately, noting that Muslims, Christians, and non-religious citizens alike have suffered from extremist violence, added that “Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against one religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. ”
