Shehu Sani: Nigeria’s ‘country of particular concern’ tag based on outright falsehoods
A former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has criticised United States President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, saying the American leader was “misinformed by anarchists, lackeys, and apprentices of neocolonialism” seeking to profit from division and discontent.
Sani, in a post shared on his X handle on Saturday, described the claim as “falsehood and misinformation,” insisting that the killings and kidnappings in Nigeria were not driven by religion.
Trump had earlier announced the designation in a post shared on his Truth Social platform on Friday, alleging that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
He wrote, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’”
The U.S. President added that the United States was ready to “save” Christians in Nigeria and other countries suffering similar “atrocities.”
Reacting, Sani said terrorists and bandits in Nigeria target victims “irrespective of their religious beliefs,” stressing that the data of attacks in the last 15 years contradicted Trump’s assertion.
“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,” Sani said.
According to him, the religious composition of Nigeria makes it “technically impossible” for one faith to persecute the other.
“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, not a Lion and Zebra configuration,” he wrote.
The senator further alleged that Trump was misled by “anarchists and lackeys of neocolonialism” who sought to profit from division and discord.
“Trump was misinformed by anarchists, 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,” he added.
Sani urged the international community to support Nigeria in tackling terrorism rather than amplifying false narratives.
“Nigeria, like all nations battling terrorism, needs support and assistance to tackle its security challenges,” he said.
