The federal government has firmly rejected ongoing allegations suggesting that Nigeria is witnessing a genocide against Christians, insisting that such narratives are inaccurate and harmful.
Officials say the claims misrepresent the country’s complex security realities and risk deepening divisions among citizens.
The position was restated after a series of high-level engagements between Nigerian and American officials, where Abuja moved to clarify what it described as “persistent misconceptions” about the nature of violence in the country.
According to the presidency, the conversations provided an opportunity to outline Nigeria’s challenges and push for greater international cooperation.
The comments followed last week’s strategic meetings in Washington, DC, involving a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Furthermore, the team held discussions across multiple US institutions, including Congress, the National Security Council, the State Department, and the White House Faith Office.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said the talks created “a more accurate understanding of the situation back home,” stressing that insecurity affects communities across religious and ethnic identities.
“The delegation made it clear that the violence we are confronting does not fit the narrative of genocide. These attacks hit both Muslim and Christian families, and framing it otherwise only fuels harmful stereotypes,” Onanuga explained.
He added that Nigeria aims to “challenge false impressions while strengthening the alliances needed to safeguard citizens.”
He also disclosed that US officials signaled a readiness to expand security cooperation, citing commitments to enhance intelligence sharing, fast-track defence equipment requests, and consider the release of surplus military assets to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations.
A senior Nigerian official who attended the meetings said the discussions were “constructive and unusually frank,” noting that both sides agreed to develop a joint working group.
“What we’re building is a framework that allows us to respond faster, share information better, and support vulnerable communities more effectively,” the official stated.
Washington, according to the presidency, pledged additional humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected areas in the Middle Belt and promised technical expertise to strengthen early-warning systems aimed at preventing mass atrocities.
Nigeria, in turn, committed to improving civilian protection measures and expanding inter-agency coordination in its security architecture.
Onanuga stressed that the government is “deeply aware of the sensitivities around religious freedom” and urged citizens to remain confident in ongoing reforms.
The delegation to Washington included Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, NSA Special Adviser Idayat Hassan, and Ambassador Ibrahim Babani of the NSA’s Foreign Relations Office.
The government maintains that the renewed partnership with the US marks an important step in countering misinformation and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to protect communities under threat.