Nigeria Rejects US Designation on Religious Freedom Violations
The Nigerian government firmly denied the United States' recent classification of Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" for alleged violations of religious freedom. This decision by the US was deemed to be based on inaccurate data and misinformation.
US Government's Actions and Statements
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced Nigeria's designation due to the killing of Christians by radical Islamist groups. This classification by the US State Department is reserved for nations violating religious freedom. Over the weekend, President Trump indicated he had requested the Department of Defense to prepare for possible rapid military action if the Nigerian government failed to address these killings effectively.
Impact on Diplomatic Relations
The US President's remarks have caused tension in diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Nigerian Government's Response
"Recent external claims suggesting systemic religious persecution in Nigeria are unfounded," said Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Dunoma Umar Ahmed during a briefing with foreign diplomats in Abuja.
Ahmed emphasized that the Nigerian state is conducting a broad counter-terrorism campaign targeting groups that threaten Nigerians regardless of their faith. He criticized the US rhetoric as "disparaging" and called for "dialogue and cooperation" to remain the foundation of relations between sovereign nations.
Summary
Nigeria denies allegations of widespread religious persecution and stresses its ongoing efforts against all extremist threats, urging mutual respect and cooperation to preserve diplomatic dialogue.