Politics
Nigeria Defends Religious Freedom After U.S. Criticism
Nigeria defends religious freedom after U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore labels it “deadliest” for Christians. Presidency calls claims ignorant and unfounded.
Nigeria religious freedom has come under renewed international scrutiny after U.S. Congressman Riley Moore described the country as “the deadliest place in the world for Christians.”
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But the Nigerian Presidency has strongly dismissed the allegations, branding them ignorant and disconnected from reality.
Presidential aide Olusegun Dada issued a blistering response via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, saying Moore’s remarks betray a complete lack of understanding about Nigeria’s religious dynamics.
“Firstly, let me say, Congressman Riley, you are ignorant — if not more ignorant than Ted Cruz — about Nigeria,” Dada wrote.
Dada asserted that no faith is under siege in the country, stressing Nigeria’s legacy as a diverse and resilient nation, where churches, mosques, and traditional shrines coexist peacefully across communities.
“Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side — not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,” he said.
The rebuke follows Riley Moore’s call on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing reports of religious violence, including the deaths of over 50,000 Christians and the destruction of 19,000 churches since 2009.
Moore also alleged that some Nigerian state officials have tolerated or facilitated violence through enforcement of anti-blasphemy laws.
In support of Moore’s claims, Senator Ted Cruz made similar remarks earlier in the year, accusing the Nigerian government of complicity in religiously motivated violence.
However, Dada maintained that such narratives misrepresent the complex realities of Nigeria’s multi-faith society and downplay ongoing efforts by local authorities to address insecurity and protect all communities.
“Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people,” he added.
Dada criticised the tendency of U.S. politicians to oversimplify foreign conflicts, referencing Ted Cruz’s past ignorance about Iran’s population and cultural dynamics.
“Same level of total ignorance now applied to Nigeria,” he concluded.
The clash underscores growing diplomatic sensitivity around international assessments of Nigeria’s human rights and religious climate.
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While the Nigerian government continues to face internal security challenges, it firmly maintains that freedom of religion remains a constitutional right upheld across the country.
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