A Joint Rejection of the Genocide Claim
In a rare moment of unity within Nigeria’s diverse and complex society, both Christians and Muslims have come together to challenge the assertion by certain high-profile U.S. officials that there is an ongoing genocide against Christians in the country. This joint stance was taken by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), who emphasized that the perpetrators of violence should be viewed as criminals without any religious affiliation.
The groups criticized the U.S. for labeling attacks by terrorists in Nigeria as “genocide,” calling it an overstatement that could deepen existing divisions in a fragile nation. According to CAN, JNI, and MURIC, while violent attacks on religious communities are indeed tragic, the situation in Nigeria is far more complex than the U.S. report suggests. They argue that attributing the crisis solely to religion overlooks underlying issues such as poverty, banditry, and political manipulation.
A Call for Unity and Understanding
Reverend Joseph Hayab, Chairman of CAN in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), described the insurgents as individuals driven by a “divide and rule” strategy. He noted that while early attacks were primarily targeted at Christians, the conflict has since evolved into a broader war against the entire country, not just one religious group.
Hayab expressed concern over the exaggerated casualty figures being reported. He highlighted the significant changes in the security situation over the past few years, citing his own experience of burying numerous victims in Kaduna between 2016 and 2023. However, he observed a shift due to increased efforts to combat terrorism.
“We don’t understand why these figures are being exaggerated. These terrorists, when they started, eventually moved beyond just killing Christians and started killing virtually everybody. And they have continued with that,” Hayab said.
He also opposed the idea of placing Nigeria on the list of ‘countries of particular concern’ by the U.S., arguing that such a move would hinder the Nigerian military’s ability to access arms and potentially leave civilians vulnerable to further violence.
A Shared Struggle Against Terrorism
Hayab pointed out that even some Muslims who reject extremist ideologies are being targeted by terrorists. He questioned why the focus should be on religion when the killings are indiscriminate.
“Two mosques have been attacked in the last two months in Katsina. So, we have an issue, a serious problem with terrorists that started with Christians, now they are going everywhere. Why don’t we join hands to push them where they belong?” he asked.
As someone from Kaduna, Hayab acknowledged the progress made in improving security along the Abuja-Kaduna road, which was once a death trap. He emphasized the need for collective action to address the growing threat of terrorism.
A Broader Perspective on Religious Violence
At a meeting convened by public commentator Reno Omokri, Islamic thought leaders, including Prof. Aliyu Abubakar of JNI, thanked the U.S. delegation for attempting to hear all sides of the Nigerian story. They expressed surprise that the U.S. had made a decision without fully understanding the context.
Prof. Abubakar dismissed the notion that terrorists are acting on behalf of Islam, emphasizing that the violence is purely criminal in nature. “Crime is a crime. Criminality is criminality. It has no bound, it has no colour, it has no religion,” he stated.
Addressing the Root Causes
Cybersecurity expert and former Minister of Communication, Prof. Isa Pantami, added that groups like Boko Haram have targeted Islamic scholars, including himself, in the past. He argued that the violence is not motivated by religion but by ideology.
“Because I debated their late leader Muhammad Yusuf on their ideology, and with the support of the Almighty God, I defeated him. If you watch the debate for almost six hours… this is to show you that the criminality is not about religion. It is criminal in general,” Pantami explained.
He stressed the importance of Nigerians uniting to combat insecurity, highlighting recent attacks on Muslims in Katsina.
A Call for Inclusive Solutions
Prof. Ishaq Akintola of MURIC described the U.S. position as “misrepresentation, misinformation and disinformation.” He argued that there is no deliberate targeting of Christians or Muslims based on religion. Instead, he attributed the violence to economic factors such as poverty and unemployment.
“For decades, ethnic clashes between herdsmen and farmers have been the main issue in the North Central, especially in Benue and Plateau,” he said.
A Fact-Finding Mission Reveals Shared Impact
Earlier, U.S. officials, including Mike Arnold, a campaigner for religious freedom, noted that both religions were significantly impacted by the attacks. Arnold visited IDP camps and observed that both Christians and Muslims were affected.
Omokri, the author, emphasized that many Nigerians feel the claims of religiously motivated violence are part of a larger effort to undermine the country, especially after Vice President Kashim Shettima spoke about Nigeria’s position on the Gaza issue at the United Nations General Assembly.
A Diverse Representation in IDP Camps
Jeff Gibbs, an American filmmaker, highlighted the suffering of IDPs but noted that all religions were represented in the camps. He mentioned that one camp was almost entirely Christian, while another, Durumi, was predominantly Muslim.
