The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has cautioned the United States of America against relying on what it described as biased, unverifiable, and false reports alleging the persecution or killing of Christians in Nigeria.
In a statement signed and released on Thursday by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, the group said there is “no iota of truth” in such claims, which it attributed to “enemies of Nigeria and the United States spreading misinformation for ulterior motives.”
Established in 2006, the MMWG said its objectives include promoting peace, unity, and inter-religious harmony through education and dialogue, while also advocating sanctions against those who spread false or divisive narratives.
The group noted that Nigeria’s insecurity challenges — including terrorism, kidnapping, arson, and killings — are criminal acts being addressed by security agencies under successive administrations, not religiously motivated attacks.
According to the statement, reliable data indicate that victims of insecurity cut across all faiths, with Muslims in northern Nigeria suffering significantly from terrorist violence.
MMWG further argued that the Federal Government’s proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), prevented “worse carnage” in the country’s southeast. It accused IPOB and ESN of carrying out attacks on security personnel, civilians, and government institutions, including arson at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices.
The group dismissed reports allegedly linked to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, claiming that Christians or Igbos were being systematically targeted. It said, “Those who were killed in the past in the southeast were victims of IPOB and ESN’s violent activities during their unlawful sit-at-home orders.”
MMWG urged former US President Donald Trump not to rely on such reports in making decisions about Nigeria, but to consult official diplomatic sources, including reports from the US Embassy in Abuja.
It also pointed out that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflects religious inclusivity, citing several key Christian figures in government — including the First Lady, Pastor Oluremi Tinubu of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; the Chief of Defence Staff; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; the Head of Service; the Director-General of the Department of State Services; and the Inspector-General of Police.
“These facts alone should convince Donald Trump and others making unsubstantiated claims that the Tinubu administration is inclusive, fair, and committed to national unity,” the statement added.
On the recurring violence in Plateau and Benue States, the group said it was misleading to classify the clashes as religious persecution, describing them instead as “long-standing farmer-herder conflicts” that predate current administrations.
The Muslim Media Watch Group also urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to approach national issues with objectivity and restraint. “By resorting to false narratives and political blackmail, some within CAN are acting against the teachings of Jesus Christ, who preached truth and peace,” it said.
The group warned that such actions could have grave national consequences, urging all religious bodies and political leaders to avoid “cheap blackmail” and work together for peace and unity.