The Federal Government has dismissed claims that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing the allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”

In a statement on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality.

“The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians,” the statement reads.

“Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality.

“While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful.

“It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.”

The minister noted that extremists have targeted Nigerians of all faiths, while also highlighting the progress made by the military in operations against terror groups.

“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith,” Idris said.

“Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.”