There’s no Christian persecution in Nigeria – CDS

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has dismissed allegations of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, insisting that no religious group is being persecuted.

Speaking to journalists after a security meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Monday, Oluyede said terrorism in Nigeria is not faith-based but part of a broader global challenge that requires international cooperation.

“Terrorism is a global issue. Several countries are battling similar challenges, and it calls for collective effort,” he said. “If there are nations willing to support Nigeria, we are open to collaborating with them to combat terrorism within our borders.”

The CDS emphasized that the Nigerian military remains focused on tackling insecurity across the country, noting that recent changes made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the nation’s security leadership were aimed at boosting the fight against terrorism.

“There are no Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” Oluyede stated. “We are dealing with insecurity, particularly terrorism, and we’re doing our best to suppress it. The president recently recalibrated the security structure to strengthen our operations.”

He assured that the armed forces would intensify ongoing operations to restore peace and stability nationwide.

The clarification follows recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of allowing Christian persecution and threatened possible U.S. military intervention.