Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has addressed a recent post by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria regarding security issues and allegations of religious persecution in the country. The U.S. Mission had claimed that two Nigerian Christian clerics, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Reverend Father Remigius Ihyula, were being prosecuted after giving testimonies during a U.S. Congressional hearing on religious persecution.
In his response, released through Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa on Friday, Tuggar acknowledged the clerics’ right to express their views but criticized their portrayal of Nigeria’s security situation as overly simplistic.
“While their views oversimplify a complex national issue, the clerics have the right to express themselves freely,” Tuggar stated.
He rejected the U.S. Mission’s assertion that the Nigerian government had allowed violence to worsen unchecked, calling the claim “inaccurate and unfair.” Tuggar emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity, including deploying security forces in violence-prone areas, facilitating peacebuilding between farmers and herders, enhancing intelligence operations, and undertaking land reforms and economic development programs.
“It is wrong to suggest that the government is inactive amid threats like banditry, terrorism, and organized crime that affect various communities,” Tuggar added.
The minister also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and assured that any threats against religious leaders would be thoroughly investigated. He stressed that Nigeria values its partnership with the U.S. and other global allies in addressing security challenges, urging caution in the narratives surrounding the country’s issues.
“The government’s priority is to protect all Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity,” he emphasized.
Tuggar firmly rejected the portrayal of the crisis as an “Islamist extermination” of Christians and called for more balanced and responsible reporting on the situation. He urged for constructive dialogue and support for peacebuilding efforts, discouraging sensationalism or further polarization of the issues.
The statement underscores Nigeria’s desire to clarify misunderstandings surrounding its security landscape while highlighting the government’s dedication to tackling violence and ensuring the protection of all its citizens.
