Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has dismissed reports suggesting that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, maintaining that the country’s primary security challenge remains terrorism.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Abuja, Oluyede refuted U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Islamic terrorists were specifically targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
“There is no persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” the Defence Chief said. “Our major challenge is insecurity—particularly terrorism—which has affected various parts of the country for some time.”
He explained that the Armed Forces are working tirelessly to combat terrorism and enhance national security, adding that recent reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu are already yielding results.
“Just last week, the President, as Commander-in-Chief, recalibrated the nation’s security architecture by appointing officers of proven integrity and expertise in asymmetric warfare to strengthen our operations,” Oluyede noted.
He assured Nigerians that the military will intensify operations against terrorists and criminal groups across the country. “We’re adding more energy and resources to our operations to ensure that terrorism is effectively contained within Nigeria,” he said.
Describing terrorism as a global problem, the Defence Chief called for international collaboration to tackle the menace. “Many countries face similar challenges. We welcome cooperation from partners willing to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts,” he added.
Oluyede’s remarks came after a high-level meeting between the National Security Adviser and the service chiefs following Trump’s controversial post on his Truth Social platform last Saturday. In the post, Trump alleged ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria and threatened potential U.S. intervention.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing,” Trump wrote.
The statement drew widespread criticism, prompting President Tinubu to issue a formal response reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to democracy and religious freedom.
In a post on his official X handle, Tinubu stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration maintains open dialogue with leaders of all faiths to promote peace and national security.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President said. “Since 2023, our administration has engaged Christian and Muslim leaders alike to address security challenges affecting all citizens.”
Tinubu rejected what he described as “inaccurate foreign narratives” portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant. “Such characterisations do not reflect our national reality nor our government’s sincere efforts to uphold freedom of belief for all Nigerians,” he stated.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, the President added that religious tolerance “remains a core part of our national identity” and pledged continued partnership with the United States and other global allies to promote mutual understanding and protect communities of all faiths.
