The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has dismissed allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, stating that the country’s primary security challenge remains terrorism.
Speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, Oluyede refuted recent claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Islamic terrorists were targeting Christians in Nigeria.
“There are no Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” Oluyede said. “Our main challenge is insecurity, particularly terrorism, which has affected the nation for some time.”
He explained that the Armed Forces are working tirelessly to combat terrorism and enhance national security, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s recent restructuring of the security architecture is already improving operations.
“Just last week, the President recalibrated the nation’s security system by appointing officers of proven integrity and expertise in asymmetric warfare to boost our ongoing efforts,” he noted.
The Defence Chief assured Nigerians that the military would intensify its operations against terrorists and criminal elements nationwide.
“We’re increasing the momentum of our campaigns to ensure terrorism is effectively contained within Nigeria,” he added.
Oluyede described terrorism as a global problem requiring international cooperation, stressing that Nigeria welcomes support from friendly nations.
“Several countries face similar challenges. We are open to collaborating with partners willing to help us tackle terrorism within our borders,” he said.
Oluyede’s comments came after a meeting between the National Security Adviser and service chiefs following Trump’s controversial post on his Truth Social platform last Saturday. Trump claimed Christians were being killed in Nigeria and warned that the U.S. could “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings continued.
The remarks sparked widespread criticism, prompting President Tinubu to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to democracy and religious freedom.
In a post on his official X handle, Tinubu stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration maintains open engagement with leaders of all faiths to promote peace and security.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said. “Since 2023, our administration has worked closely with Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges affecting citizens across all faiths and regions.”
The President rejected foreign portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, calling them inaccurate.
“The depiction of Nigeria as intolerant does not reflect our reality or the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard freedom of religion for all citizens,” he stated.
Tinubu reaffirmed that religious tolerance remains a core value of the Nigerian people and pledged continued collaboration with the United States and other global partners to protect communities of every faith.
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