Oluyede Denies US Claims of Christians Persecution in Nigeria
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has rejected allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, asserting that the country’s primary security challenge remains terrorism.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Abuja, Oluyede dismissed recent claims by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Islamic terrorists were targeting Christians in Nigeria.
“There are no Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” Oluyede stated. “Our major concern is insecurity, particularly terrorism, which has plagued the country for years.”
He emphasized that the Nigerian Armed Forces are actively engaged in combating terrorism and enhancing national security. According to Oluyede, recent reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu have already begun to strengthen military operations.
“Just last week, the President recalibrated the security architecture by appointing officers with proven integrity and expertise in asymmetric warfare,” he said.
Oluyede assured the public that the military would intensify its efforts to neutralize terrorist threats and other criminal activities across the country. “We’re scaling up our operations to ensure terrorism is effectively checkmated,” he added.
He also noted that terrorism is a global issue, not unique to Nigeria, and called for international collaboration. “Many nations face similar threats. We welcome support from any country willing to help us tackle terrorism within our borders,” he said.
The Defence Chief reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability nationwide and urged both Nigerians and international partners to continue backing the country’s counterterrorism initiatives.
His remarks followed a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser and military service chiefs, held in response to Trump’s controversial post on Truth Social last Saturday. In the post, Trump accused the Nigerian government of allowing Christian killings and threatened to halt U.S. aid, even suggesting military intervention.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump wrote.
The statement drew widespread criticism and prompted a formal response from President Tinubu, who reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and democratic values.
Posting on his X handle, Tinubu emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration actively engages 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 maintained open dialogue with Christian and Muslim leaders and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across all regions and faiths.”
He rejected foreign portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, calling them inaccurate and disconnected from the country’s diverse and unified reality.
“The notion that Nigeria is religiously intolerant does not reflect our national character or the government’s consistent efforts to protect religious freedom,” Tinubu stated.
He reaffirmed that religious tolerance remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s identity and pledged continued collaboration with the United States and other global partners to foster mutual understanding and safeguard communities of all faiths.
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