The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Kaduna State Chapter, has criticised the decision of the United States government under President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the move as "unjust, biased, and one-sided."
The council said the US government’s decision ignored the complex realities of Nigeria’s security challenges and unfairly painted the country as a theatre of religious persecution.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, the Secretary of the Council, Hassan AbdulRahman, said the Trump administration’s conclusion was based on misinformation and failed to account for the ethnic, political, and economic dimensions of Nigeria’s crises.
"The council is not happy with this development regarding allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria. The Trump administration should have sought a balanced perspective before jumping to conclusions," AbdulRahman said.
President Trump had on Friday, through his Truth Social platform, declared that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," blaming radical Islamists for what he called the "mass slaughter" of Christians.
He also directed Congressmen Riley Moore and Tom Cole, along with the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate and report back to him.
The declaration has invited wide debate across Nigeria, with some Christian organisations welcoming the decision while several Muslim groups, including the SCSN, rejected it as politically motivated and unreflective of reality.
AbdulRahman argued that portraying Nigeria as a country that systematically persecutes Christians was misleading and damaging to its international image.
According to him, both Christians and Muslims have suffered heavily from terrorism, banditry, and communal violence.
"By statistics, it’s clear that Muslims are mostly the victims in various instances. Attributing these tensions solely to religion oversimplifies the realities and undermines national unity and peace," he said.
He accused Western nations, particularly the United States, of practising selective empathy, claiming that global concern tends to heighten only when Christians are attacked.
"Wherever Muslims are killed, it doesn’t concern the West or the US. They always highlight issues affecting Christians while remaining silent on violence against Muslims. This bias breeds distrust and alienation among Muslim communities," he said.
The council also faulted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for promoting what it called "false narratives" of Christian genocide, saying such claims have deepened divisions and heightened tensions.
"To CAN, who initiated these lies, they should know that when Nigeria sinks, may Allah forbid, it’s all of us that will bear the brunt. Christians, Muslims, and even pagans will not be spared," AbdulRahman said.
He urged Nigerians to resist external attempts to sow discord and urged that lasting peace could only be achieved through dialogue and mutual understanding.
"Let us not allow foreign lies to divide us. Through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation, Nigeria can overcome its challenges and build a peaceful future for all," he said.
The SCSN secretary further called on the Federal Government to respond firmly to the US designation, insisting that mere statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were not enough.
"Our position is clear, we strongly condemn this decision by the US. The government must do more than issue statements. Stern action must be taken, even if it means reviewing or cutting diplomatic ties, to show the gravity of the situation," he said.
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