The Nigerian Senate has resolved to hold an executive session to discuss allegations of Christian genocide in the country, following a motion moved by Senator Ali Ndume and co-sponsored by senators across political and regional divides.
The motion aims to counter negative narratives in the foreign press and advocacy circles that portray Nigeria’s insecurity as religion-driven.
Senator Ndume emphasized that Nigeria’s unity depends on mutual respect, tolerance, and accurate understanding of its complex realities.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that terrorism in Nigeria is driven by geography and circumstance, not religion, adding that if terrorism occurs in a Christian-dominated area, Christians will be the victims, and if it happens in a Muslim-dominated area, Muslims will be the victims.
The Senate’s position is that insecurity challenges in Nigeria are not religion-driven, but rather due to geography and circumstance.
The motion’s objective is to counter misinformation, promote transparent communication, interfaith solidarity, and fact-based reporting.
This comes after US Senator Ted Cruz proposed a bill to protect “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria and designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged religious persecution.
Senator Sumaila Kawu warned that the US Congress risks making an uninformed decision that could endanger both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
The Senate’s decision follows concerns raised by US lawmakers about the safety of Christians in Nigeria, with some calling for the country to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern”.
The executive session aims to discuss strategies for engaging international partners and correcting misconceptions about Nigeria’s religious landscape.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has backed US Senator Ted Cruz’s claims of Christian persecution, while the Federal Government has rejected the allegations as “false and baseless”.
