The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has criticised the U.S. government for misjudging Nigeria’s security situation, saying its recent designation of the country as a “country of concern” was based on misinformation.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, November 5, Idris said Nigeria’s fight against terrorism has been unfairly portrayed as religious persecution.
He emphasised that the crisis affects all Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
“The menace of terrorism in Nigeria does not exclusively target any religious or ethnic group,” Idris said. “Extremism is blind to religion, tribe, or class.”
He urged the United States to approach the situation “with an understanding of Nigeria’s complex realities” and praised the partnership between both countries in counterterrorism efforts, citing the acquisition of U.S.-made Super Tucano aircraft and upcoming Viper helicopters.
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Idris called for continued cooperation and constructive engagement, saying, “Nigeria welcomes dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect in addressing shared security concerns.”
First Daily reports that United States President Donald Trump had earlier announced the redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over what he described as the ongoing mass killing of Christians in the country.
Trump made the announcement on Friday, October 31, through a post on his Truth Social account, where he expressed alarm over what he called an “existential threat” to Christianity in Nigeria. “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump declared.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” he claimed.