• Council condemns attempts to portray Nigeria as Anti-Christian, Calls for National Unity

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has strongly condemned what it described as a “systematic and false campaign” portraying Nigeria as a nation persecuting Christians, warning that such narratives are dangerous and aimed at dividing the country along religious lines.

In a statement signed by Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Council, the NSCIA expressed dismay over recent international allegations that the Nigerian government is “facilitating the mass murder of Christians.”

The Council accused certain local and foreign actors, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), of promoting these “falsehoods” for political and financial gain.

According to the statement, the negative global perception of Nigeria on religious issues stems from the activities of some Nigerian citizens and groups allegedly working as agents of foreign interests.

“These elements have found a big business in self-flagellation, engaging in acts that verge on treason to achieve material gains. They exploit religious sentiments to gain global recognition and fame,” the Council said.

The NSCIA said it was disappointed that while government agencies had refuted the allegations, they failed to “call a spade a spade” by naming the local originators of the misinformation.

 

The Council further alleged that some political actors have tried to turn Nigeria into a religious battleground, particularly during the 2023 presidential election.

It cited a leaked audio in which a presidential candidate allegedly told a cleric that the election was a “religious war.”

“When the plot to set Nigerians against each other failed, they turned to delegitimising the government in power by venting lies and projecting victimhood to the international community,” the statement noted.

Rejecting claims that terrorist attacks in Nigeria specifically target Christians, the NSCIA cited reports from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which acknowledge that terrorists and bandits attack both Muslims and Christians indiscriminately.

“In the first half of 2025 alone, terrorists and bandits reportedly killed over 2,266 civilians, mostly in Northern Nigeria, displacing millions, both Muslims and Christians alike,” the Council observed.

The NSCIA further expressed “deep concern” that the Federal Government failed to condemn “false and odious” statements made by some CAN officials, including Bishop Wilberforce Chikpa Anagbe and Rev. Joseph Hayab, who were accused of spreading misinformation to foreign media.

“A popular television station even allotted substantial airtime to restate the false narrative that Christians are being targeted across Nigeria,” the Council lamented.

However, the NSCIA commended CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, who admitted that “foreign interests sometimes exploit Nigeria’s situation for their own benefit,” describing it as a rare moment of honesty.

The Council said it was “extremely disappointed” in the CAN President, accusing him of falsely proclaiming that Christians are being deliberately marginalized.

It added that when security chiefs were Muslims, CAN complained of bias, but now that most are Christians, “the complaint continues because CAN’s agenda is to malign Islam and Muslims.”

Citing former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the NSCIA argued that “many terrorist groups projected as Islamic were actually creations of anti-Islamic forces.”

The Council also accused some government agencies and international partners of bias against Muslims, referencing a recent circular by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), which allegedly prohibited cooperation between conventional insurers and Takaful Operators, describing the move as “a violation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.”

The NSCIA said the directive was “clearly intended to divide Nigerians along religious lines and to fight Islamic financial institutions.”

The Council reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s unity, urging Muslims and Christians to reject divisive rhetoric.

The Council strongly believes in one and indivisible Nigeria and shall continue to work to preserve this ideal even in the face of the greatest provocation,” Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze said.