Bandits attacks in Nigeria not driven by religion – Senator slams US position on Christians genocide claim
Bandits attacks in Nigeria not driven by religion – Senator slams US position on Christians genocide claim
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised United States President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Sani dismissed the designation as unfounded and based on misinformation, stressing that terrorist and bandit attacks in Nigeria are indiscriminate and not driven by religion.
According to him, the religious composition of Nigeria makes it “technically impossible” for one faith to systematically persecute another, describing the country’s complex interfaith dynamics as “a Lion and Tiger, not a Lion and Zebra” situation.
The former lawmaker alleged that those who influenced Trump’s decision were motivated by divisive and self-serving interests.
He maintained that Nigeria, like many nations grappling with terrorism, deserves international cooperation and understanding not condemnation.
He wrote: “I understand that Nigeria is among the 12 countries designated as one of particular Concern.The designation of Nigeria is founded on outright falsehoods and wholesale misinformation.
“Terrorists and bandits in Nigeria kill and kidnap their victims irrespective of their religious beliefs.The records are self evident in the last 15 years.
“Looking at the Muslim/Christian ratio in Nigeria, it’s technically impossible for one faith to persecute another. Nigeria is a Lion and Tiger situation and not a Lion and a Zebra configuration.
“Trump was misinformed by anarchists and lackeys and apprentices of neocolonialism who aimed to benefit from their seeds of division, divisiveness and discontent.This particular weapon raised against this country shall never prosper. Nigeria, like all nations battling terrorism, needs support and assistance to tackle its security challenges.”
