The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has dismissed U.S. claims that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, calling it “another error in their intelligence.”
The U.S. recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a watchlist flagging nations accused of violating religious freedom. This followed comments from former President Donald Trump, warning of potential aid cuts or military action if attacks on Christians continued.
Issa-Onilu said the allegations were misleading and unfair, noting Nigeria’s recent overhaul of its military leadership as proof of the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity and communal violence.
“Even America knows there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he said. “Their intelligence has failed them before in Iraq and Libya, and this is another error.”
He added that the National Security Adviser and new service chiefs would brief the media to further address the claims.
