Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed claims of a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria, describing such narratives as misleading and inaccurate.
Speaking during an engagement with students at Abbey College Cambridge in the United Kingdom on April 21, Mohammed said Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and should not be reduced to religious persecution.
“There should be more understanding on the part of the developed world. People say that there is religious persecution in Nigeria and that there is genocide against Christians. It’s not true. It is fake news,” he stated.
The former minister explained that insurgent group Boko Haram initially targeted Muslims, particularly those who embraced Western education, stressing that early victims were largely from within the Muslim community.
“At the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were mostly Muslims. The group started as a revolt by extremist elements against conventional Muslims,” he said, noting that the term “Boko Haram” loosely translates to opposition to Western education.
According to Mohammed, the group later shifted its tactics to include attacks on Christians in order to attract international attention.
“They realised that attacks involving Muslims alone did not generate global outrage. When Christians became targets, it drew more international focus,” he added.
He also rejected claims that banditry in Nigeria is driven by religious motives, arguing that both perpetrators and victims are largely Muslims, making it inaccurate to frame the crisis along religious lines.
Mohammed maintained that Muslims account for a significant proportion of victims of insurgency and violence in the country. He further highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of religious coexistence, citing interfaith relationships and political diversity, including the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He concluded that addressing Nigeria’s security challenges requires a broader understanding beyond religious narratives, urging the international community to avoid oversimplifying the crisis.
Elijah Adeyemi
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