Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has written an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, dismissing claims of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
In a detailed statement shared publicly, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, described Trump’s concern about “mass killings” of Christians as “misinformed.” He said such assertions do not reflect the true state of Nigeria’s religious and social realities.
Keyamo Defends Tinubu’s Government
Keyamo explained that he had spent over three decades as a human rights lawyer and was honoured in Washington in 2017 with the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council for his advocacy for the oppressed.
He stressed that if Christians were being deliberately targeted, he would never serve under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
He said Tinubu, though a Muslim, is “a known moderate,” whose wife is a pastor and whose children are practising Christians.
According to Keyamo, Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and forbids the adoption of a state religion, making the nation a secular and multi-faith country. He added that religious coexistence has long defined Nigeria’s social fabric.
‘No Targeted Killings of Christians’
The Minister stated that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from the long-standing menace of Boko Haram, herdsmen attacks, and cattle rustling, not religious persecution. He noted that President Tinubu inherited these problems but has made “great progress” in tackling them.
He also pointed out that most of the current security chiefs are Christians, making it unthinkable that they would tolerate or participate in the killing of fellow Christians.
Call for Cooperation with the U.S.
Keyamo appealed to Trump and the U.S. government to show understanding and support Nigeria’s efforts to end terrorism rather than rely on misleading reports.
“Nigeria asks for deep and sincere understanding from your government,” he wrote, urging Washington to engage in “open dialogue and collaboration” to combat the nation’s security challenges.
He concluded his letter by praying for both countries, saying, “God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless the United States of America.”
