The federal government has described as misleading the recent reports by the United States’ Congress alleging targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria.
According to reports, the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa authorised President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria due to the alleged widespread killing of Christians and escalating religious violence within the country.
A statement by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the report is a campaign aimed at influencing foreign governments to see Nigeria in such light due to violence against Christians.
The statement however, acknowledged the country’s security challenges, stressing that such incidents are not motivated by religious bias.
It said the majority of violence in the predominantly Muslim northern region stemmed from criminality, insurgency and banditry, not religious persecution.
The Federal government highlighted its ongoing efforts to combat security threats such as insurgency, banditry and communal clashes, such as those between farmers and herders.