The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has acknowledged ongoing killings in the country but insists that both Christians and Muslims are victims of jihadist extremism, primarily from the North-East.

Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “Yes, we have people being killed… and the government is not shying away or denying this. Extremists kill both Muslims and Christians, making the genocide narrative inaccurate.”

Idris explained that some deaths also stem from communal clashes, religious tensions, and economic pressures, particularly in the Middle Belt, and emphasized that the administration is taking “significant steps” to address security challenges.

The minister referenced security reforms implemented by President Tinubu, including the replacement of service chiefs, to strengthen counter-insurgency operations. He dismissed claims that Nigeria is hostile to Christians, a narrative partly raised after former U.S. President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations.

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa recently held a hearing to examine the CPC designation. Committee members cited attacks by Boko Haram and armed militias targeting minority communities and debated possible sanctions, visa restrictions, and conditional aid.

President Tinubu, however, reiterated in a statement that the CPC label “does not reflect our national reality” and highlighted ongoing engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders since 2023 to resolve security issues.

---

If you want, I can create a broader featur