Federal Government has again denied allegations made by a United States Senator, Ted Cruz, that Christians are being genocide in Nigeria. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, denied the allegations in a special interview published by Fox News Digital in the US on Tuesday.
The Minister said: "The Nigerian government rejects this allegation. This is absolutely untrue."
Responding to the claims made by Senator Cruz, Idris said: "It is not true. This is not what is happening. I mean, it is not true that over 20,000 churches have been burned. And it is false to say that 52,000 Christians have been killed. Where did he get these figures? He has no proof or evidence to back it up. The Nigerian government rejects this allegation."
He also emphasized that no government official or institution in Nigeria is backing terrorists or working with them to attack followers of any religion.
According to him: "No government official in Nigeria would support insurgents to attack followers of any religion. This allegation is 100 percent false."
The Minister reaffirmed that Nigeria is a multi-religious and harmonious country, stating: "Nigeria is a country with followers of diverse religions. We have Christians, we have Muslims, and even those who do not follow these two religions. Nigeria is a country that accepts religious diversity. The Nigerian government is determined to ensure that there is religious freedom in this country."
He added that the problem of terrorism affects everyone, regardless of religion. He said: "It is unfortunate that these terrorists are killing Christians and Muslims in different places where they find support. Therefore, it is not true. It is completely false to say that there is a plan or a deliberate design to exterminate a religious group; this is incorrect, and it is very unfortunate."
Idris emphasized that the Federal Government is fully committed to ensuring the security of the lives and properties of its citizens, stressing that the country's security agencies have not relented in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and all forms of armed criminality.