The Nigerian Senate is set to debate a motion on Tuesday addressing growing international claims of “systemic genocide” against Christians in the country.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities”, is sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North), and Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South).
Lawmakers are returning from their annual recess, which began on July 23 and this motion is expected to spark a significant conversation on Nigeria’s international image and internal security discourse.
In the motion, the senators urged the Federal Government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant security agencies, to counter false narratives by adopting a data-driven communication strategy.
This includes publishing verified casualty figures, contextual reports and findings from official investigations into acts of violence and insecurity.
Senator Ndume noted growing concern over what he called the “dangerous misrepresentation” of Nigeria’s security issues, particularly the portrayal of attacks on Christian communities as part of a systematic religious cleansing campaign.
While acknowledging that Christian communities have suffered horrific violence in several regions, Ndume stressed that insecurity in Nigeria affects all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation.
> “Framing the security crisis as a Christian genocide not only distorts reality but also risks deepening sectarian divides and undermining our collective national unity,” he warned.
The motion emphasizes that Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and communal violence, have impacted both Christian and Muslim populations, as well as other ethnic and religious groups across the country.
Senator Ndume referenced the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the government to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians without bias to religion or ethnicity.
The senators expressed alarm at developments in the U.S. Congress, where efforts are reportedly underway to list Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” due to allegations of widespread religious persecution.
They warned that such designations, if based on one-sided or inaccurate reports, could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and diplomatic standing.
To address this, the motion calls for more proactive engagement with international partners, including: U.S lawmakers and government agencies, the Nigerian diaspora, and foreign media and think tanks.
This outreach would be carried out through official briefings and fact-based publications aimed at correcting misconceptions about religious persecution and violence in Nigeria.
