Why it matters:
His remarks come amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security crisis. Recent comments by U.S. media figures Bill Maher and Van Jones alleging “Christian genocide” in Nigeria have sparked backlash from both the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Christian Association of Nigeria, who reject the framing as divisive and inaccurate.
The big picture:
Nigeria continues to face deadly attacks from multiple armed groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits in the north, and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the southeast. These groups have targeted both Muslims and Christians, killing civilians, kidnapping people, and displacing communities.
What he’s saying:
“This is not about faith,” Fani-Kayode said. “Both Christians and Muslims are being subjected to mass murder, genocide, and ethnic cleansing by the same people, those who claim no true religion but act in the name of barbarity and evil.”
He accused the ESN of killing both Christians and Muslims in the southeast and rejected the idea that such violence could be justified by religion. “They do this under the banner of Zionism, not Christianity,” he said.
Fani-Kayode also criticized the U.S. for hypocrisy, citing past refusals to sell arms to Nigeria and the links between American actors and terrorist financing. “The same deep state that claims to care about us is arming those who slaughter our people”, he said.
The former minister urged Nigerians of all faiths and ethnicities to reject sectarian narratives and unite against external forces. “Whether you are African, Arab, black, or brown, if you are being killed for being different, we must stand together,” he said. “We are on our own, but God is with us. Do not lose hope. Stay united.”
Go deeper:
Armed Bandits Kill 13 Security Forces in North-Western Nigeria
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