By Dapo Akinrefon
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed claims of a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria, stating that insurgent groups, particularly Boko Haram, have killed more Muslims than Christians.
Mohammed made the remarks on Wednesday in the United Kingdom while engaging with students of Abbey College Cambridge during an interactive session focused on governance and youth participation in Nigeria.
Responding to questions on alleged religious persecution, the former minister described the narrative of a “Christian genocide” as false and misleading.
“There should be more understanding on the part of the developed world. People say there is religious persecution in Nigeria and that there is genocide against Christians. It’s not true. It is fake news,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and not driven by any deliberate attempt to eliminate a religious group.
“Nigeria as a country has challenges that will not be resolved by genocide against any religion,” he added.
Mohammed explained that Boko Haram initially emerged as a movement targeting Muslims who embraced Western education, noting that its early victims were predominantly Muslims.
“At the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were largely Muslims, not Christians. Boko Haram started as a revolt by extreme Muslims against conventional Muslims like me,” he said.
He further explained the ideological roots of the group, noting that “Boko Haram” roughly translates to Western education being forbidden, making educated Muslims targets of the sect.
According to him, the group later extended its attacks to Christians to attract wider global attention.
“They realised that Muslims killing one another doesn’t gain traction. When Muslims start killing Christians, it causes an uproar. That is the honest truth,” he stated.
On banditry, Mohammed rejected claims that it is religiously motivated, describing it as a criminal enterprise largely affecting people of the same ethnic and religious backgrounds.
“The bandits are Muslims, they are Hausa-Fulanis. Their victims are Muslims, they are Hausa-Fulanis. So how can you now talk about religion? It has nothing to do with religion,” he said.
He maintained that available records indicate Muslims account for the highest number of victims of insurgent attacks in Nigeria.
Mohammed also highlighted what he described as Nigeria’s long-standing culture of religious tolerance, arguing that religion rarely drives everyday conflicts among citizens.
“In Nigeria, the average Muslim and Christian only disagree over money, not theology. They are more concerned about the economy and ways of life,” he said.
Citing an example, he pointed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, noting their interfaith marriage as reflective of Nigeria’s diversity.
“Look at our president, Bola Tinubu. He is a Muslim while his wife is a leader in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. That is the Nigeria I know and I am very proud of,” he said.
He reiterated that claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria are unfounded and should be countered through accurate public communication.
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