-
US Envoy Massad Boulos refutes allegations of religious genocide
-
He says terrorist violence cuts across ethnic and faith lines
-
Commends Tinubu’s security efforts as yielding visible progress
The United States, US Envoy for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, has dismissed widespread claims of an ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria, stating that terrorist attacks in the country have affected both Christians and Muslims alike.
Boulos, who serves as Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, made this known during a visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
The clarification comes amid growing pressure from some American lawmakers urging Washington to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.
However, the White House is yet to issue any official position on the matter.
Speaking to journalists after his closed-door meeting with President Tinubu, Boulos stressed that terrorism in Nigeria transcends ethnicity and religion.
“Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe,” he said.
“People of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of terrorist acts. Boko Haram and ISIS have actually killed more Muslims than Christians. People are suffering from all backgrounds. This is not specifically targeted at one group or the other.”
Conflict Beyond Religion
Boulos further explained that while Nigeria’s Middle Belt has witnessed violent clashes between farmers and herders, sometimes involving Christian farming communities, such conflicts are not religiously motivated.
READ ALSO: Suspend South-East Visit – IPOB Tells British Envoy
“It’s not something that can be said to target any particular religious group,” he clarified.
He also described Nigeria as a diverse nation of ethnic and religious groups that have coexisted peacefully for decades, noting that both Christianity and Islam share nearly equal population strength.
“This has never been a serious religious issue and should not be,” he added.
Commendation for Tinubu’s Efforts
The U.S. envoy commended President Tinubu’s administration for its recent security initiatives, which he said are beginning to produce tangible results.
Boulos’s remarks come after Vice President Kashim Shettima’s address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he described the situation in Gaza as “heart-wrenching” and called for an immediate ceasefire leading to Palestinian independence.
According to Shettima, a two-state solution remains the most viable path to lasting peace, warning that the continued neglect of international law only fuels propaganda and undermines global stability.
