Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has rejected the decision of former US President Donald Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern.
Gatekeepers News reports that addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday after a meeting of Islamic organisations nationwide, Ishaq Oloyede, NSCIA secretary-general, noted that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex but not rooted in religion.
He described the US decision as an act of political cynicism, maintaining that the country’s problems stem from poor governance, climate pressures, and criminal activities rather than religious conflict.
He said, “We have not been emphasising the killing of Muslims, not because we are unaware that Muslims are being killed, but because we do not view what is going on as a religious war, but as a national security issue.”
Oloyede accused Islamophobic and unpatriotic groups in the United States of deliberately spreading false claims that Nigeria condones Christian genocide.
He said it was regrettable that the President of the United States labelled our country in such disgraceful terms, stressing that Nigeria needs cooperation, not condemnation.
According to NSCIA, the US designation appears to be an excuse to destabilise the country. The organisation noted that international laws, including the Rome Statute, define genocide as an intentional effort to eliminate a specific group—something it said is not occurring in Nigeria.
Citing findings from Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group, Oloyede explained that both Muslims and Christians suffer from the ongoing violence.
He said, “Terrorist groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram kill indiscriminately—they attack mosques and churches alike. These terrorists are not representatives of Islam; they are its enemies.”
Oluyede further alleged that certain American politicians and Nigerian separatist groups are exploiting the crisis for political and financial benefit. He said, “There are foreign instigators who exploit this situation to energise their domestic evangelical base. Some Nigerians abroad also fabricate stories of persecution to obtain asylum and media visibility.”
NSCIA also expressed disappointment with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for amplifying falsehoods, while praising Christian leaders who have admitted that the violence is not religiously motivated.
Oloyede urged federal government to intensify efforts to safeguard every citizen and hold both internal and foreign enablers accountable.
He warned, “Running to America or foreign lobbyists will not solve Nigeria’s problems. If Nigeria is again designated as a country of particular concern, all citizens will suffer — Muslims and Christians alike.”
He appealed to Trump to withdraw his statement and seek a genuine partnership with Nigeria through intelligence sharing, logistics, and capacity building.
Oluyede added, “Partnership, not prejudice, is what Nigeria needs. We will not allow our country to be fragmented by a foreign agenda. Our unity as a nation will endure.”
