The House of Representatives has dismissed claims by some United States lawmakers alleging genocide and religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The legislators described the accusation as a “false and misleading narrative” that does not reflect the country’s reality.
The move followed a motion by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and other lawmakers during plenary on Wednesday.
It was in response to a proposed US Senate bill sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz seeking to label Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom.
Senator Cruz had claimed that Nigerian Christians were being targeted and executed by Islamist groups, calling for sanctions against Nigerian officials. However, President Bola Tinubu, Information Minister Mohammed Idris, and several Nigerian groups have refuted the allegations, stressing that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of faith.
Lawmakers call for strong diplomatic engagement
Kalu told the House that the US bill was based on outdated and one-sided reports that ignore Nigeria’s complex security situation.
He said insecurity in the country is driven by multiple factors such as insurgency, banditry, separatist violence, and communal clashes — not government policy or religious bias.
“Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and no faith is under siege,” Kalu said. He added that successive administrations have worked to protect worshippers and punish offenders regardless of their religion.
The House resolved that Nigeria must not allow “foreign mischaracterisations” to distort its image or undermine diplomatic ties.
It urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate a formal protest to the sponsors of the US bill and relevant congressional committees within 21 days.
Committees to engage US officials, defend Nigeria’s image
The lawmakers directed the committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security, Interior, and Information to liaise with Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the US Mission in Abuja.
They also proposed setting up a Nigeria-US Joint Fact-Finding Mechanism on Religious Freedom involving faith leaders and independent experts.
Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere and other lawmakers warned that allowing the US narrative to stand could damage Nigeria’s international reputation.
Some also urged the President to quickly appoint ambassadors to key foreign missions, including the US and the UN.
Adopting the motion, the House reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious tolerance and constitutional freedoms while rejecting any attempt to label the country as hostile to a particular faith.
FG and CAN react to the US allegations
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris described Senator Cruz’s claim of “20,000 burned churches and 52,000 Christians killed” as false and unsupported by facts.
“No Nigerian official supports violence against any religion. Nigeria remains a multi-faith and tolerant nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) acknowledged that many Christian communities have suffered attacks but emphasized that all Nigerians deserve equal protection.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged the government to ensure justice for victims of all faiths and to strengthen measures that guarantee fairness and security across the country.
“Peace is too fragile to be taken for granted,” he added.
