According to a report by Punch on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed claims that there is a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria, stating that such allegations do not reflect the realities of the country’s security situation.
He made the remarks during an interactive session held in the United Kingdom with students of Abbey College Cambridge, where discussions focused on governance, security, and youth engagement in politics.
The session provided an opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to ask questions about developments in Nigeria and gain insight into issues affecting the country.
During the discussion, Lai Mohammed responded to concerns raised about alleged religious persecution, particularly claims that Christians are being deliberately targeted.
He explained that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and cannot be reduced to a single narrative of religious targeting.
According to him, the nature of insecurity in the country is influenced by a combination of social, economic, and historical factors.
He emphasized that it would be inaccurate to describe the situation as a coordinated effort against any specific religious group, noting that such interpretations do not fully capture the realities on the ground.
The former minister referenced the emergence of Boko Haram as part of his explanation of how insecurity in the country developed over time.
He stated that the group initially focused on opposing western education and that many of its early victims were Muslims who embraced formal education systems.
According to him, the group’s activities later expanded to include attacks on Christians and other civilians, which he said was part of a broader strategy to gain attention and expand its influence.
His comments highlighted the evolving nature of the group’s operations over the years.
Lai Mohammed also addressed issues related to banditry in different parts of the country, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He stated that banditry is not driven by religious motivations but is instead linked to criminal activities involving individuals from various backgrounds.
He explained that both perpetrators and victims of such attacks are often from the same ethnic and religious communities.
His remarks were aimed at clarifying what he described as misconceptions about the role of religion in these violent incidents.
He emphasized that the situation should be understood in terms of criminality rather than religious identity.
He said, “The bandits are Muslims, they are Hausa-Fulanis. Their victims are Muslims; they are Hausa-Fulanis. So how can you now talk about religion? It has nothing to do with religion.” Read_More…