* Calls for US collaboration with Nigerian Army to fight insurgency
* Security crisis driven by poverty, criminality, not religion – Prof. Oloyede
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Ishaq O. Oloyede, has described the recent claim by the United States of America that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the country.
Prof. Oloyede, who spoke at a press conference yesterday, in Abuja, said the allegation of a Christian genocide in Nigeria was “completely unfounded” and “politically motivated.”
He explained that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, and some American lawmakers, including Senator Cruz and Congressman Moore, had been misled by false narratives about Nigeria. “We have found that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he said, noting that Nigeria faces a complex security crisis affecting all citizens regardless of faith.
Prof. Oloyede said the terrorism in Nigeria, perpetrated by groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other armed criminals, targeted both Muslims and Christians indiscriminately. He added that these groups were “our mortal enemies” and should not be seen as representatives of Islam.
He further alleged that some of these extremist groups had been indirectly supported or created by foreign actors, including the United States. “It is publicly acknowledged that the United States of America created Al-Qaeda,” he said, adding that U.S. agencies had in some cases funded Boko Haram and other terrorist networks.
The NSCIA Secretary-General also linked the sudden U.S. focus on Nigeria to the country’s recent foreign policy stance.
“This campaign escalated immediately after Nigeria at the 88th session of the UN General Assembly reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution and solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he said.
He explained that far-right and pro-Israeli actors in the U.S. were using the genocide narrative to deflect attention from atrocities in Gaza.
Prof. Oloyede accused domestic and foreign actors of exploiting religion for political gain. “Who benefits from the lie? There are foreign instigators, specialists of American politicians, who seek to energise their domestic evangelical base,” he said, noting that Senator Cruz and Congressman Moore were among those pushing the narrative on Capitol Hill.
He urged the international community to reject what he described as a “false, dangerous and destabilising narrative” and called on President Trump to retract his statement. “We call on the President of the United States of America to retract his statement against Nigeria. And rather, assist Nigeria with credible intelligence,” he added.
Prof. Oloyede also stressed the need for collaboration with the Nigerian government. “If the United States is sincere, it should collaborate with the Nigerian armed forces, help them fight insurgency, grant access to equipment and other logistics, but not determine our course unilaterally,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria’s security challenges were driven by multiple factors, including climate change, poverty, mass unemployment, criminality, and the failure of governance. “This is not a religious war. Muslims and Christians alike are victims of perennial insecurity,” he said.
The NSCIA Secretary-General concluded by urging Nigerians and the international press to be fair and accurate. “We call on the Nigerian government to redouble its efforts to protect all citizens, destroy bandits and terrorists, and expose domestic instigators of divisive lies,” he said.
“The stability of Nigeria is not for foreign actors to manipulate; we will not allow external interference to exploit our religious diversity,” he said.
Source: Daily Trust |READ FULL TEXT HERE
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