The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that Christians are being killed in Nigeria under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing such allegations as “politics taken too far.”
Wike made the remark on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He said it was wrong for anyone to accuse the government he serves of supporting genocide against Christians.
“It is an indictment that a government I am serving, anybody will allege that that government is supporting genocide, killing of Christians and I am still in that government,” Wike stated.
He argued that key figures in Nigeria’s security structure are Christians and would never support such claims.
“The Inspector General of Police is a Christian, the Director General of the DSS is a Christian, and the Chief of Defence Staff is a Christian,” he said. “Tell me how any right-thinking person will think that we will sit in a government and support the killing of our own people?”
Wike added that the deaths of Nigerians, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, bring sorrow to all genuine leaders.
His statement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s explosive claim that Christians are facing genocide in Nigeria. Trump had accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop what he called “mass killings of Christians.”
In a fiery post on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare a possible plan of attack in Nigeria, claiming Christianity was “facing an existential threat.”
“If Nigeria does not stop these killings, we will attack — and it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians,” Trump said.
He repeated the threat on Sunday after the Nigerian Presidency suggested diplomatic dialogue. When asked by reporters if the U.S. was considering deploying troops or launching air strikes, Trump replied, “Could be, I mean, a lot of things — I envisage a lot of things.”
Trump’s comments have drawn international concern and domestic outrage.
When asked if he feared a U.S. military invasion, Wike declined to give a direct answer but hinted that Trump’s comments might be based on misinformation.
“There could be some misinformation or distortion. It’s unfortunate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has continued to debunk allegations of genocide against Christians. Top officials, including the National Security Adviser, are holding emergency meetings to address the global fallout from Trump’s threat.