The Kaduna State chapter of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria has faulted the United States government for designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the move as biased and misleading.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Sunday, the Council’s Secretary, Hassan Abdul Rahman, accused the Donald Trump-led administration of relying on “one-sided narratives” that fail to reflect the complex realities of insecurity and violence in Nigeria.
“The Council is disappointed by this hasty and unbalanced judgment on allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria,” Rahman said. “The Trump administration should have sought a more objective and comprehensive understanding of the situation before making such a declaration.”
He noted that available statistics show Muslims have also been major victims of violence across the country, warning against reducing Nigeria’s security challenges to religious conflicts.
“By all indications, Muslims have suffered equal or even greater losses in several regions. Framing the crisis as purely religious oversimplifies the issues and undermines national unity and peace,” he added.
Rahman further accused Western nations of selective empathy, alleging that global outrage only emerges when Christians are affected, while violence against Muslims often goes unnoticed.
“Whenever Muslims are killed, the West remains silent. But they quickly react when Christians are attacked. This double standard breeds mistrust and widens division,” he said.
The Sharia Council also criticised the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), accusing it of spreading “false narratives” that could worsen religious tension.
“To CAN, we say: when Nigeria falls apart, God forbid, everyone—Christians, Muslims, and even pagans—will suffer the consequences,” Rahman warned.
He urged Nigerians to reject foreign interference in domestic religious affairs and focus instead on collective efforts to end insecurity.
“We must not allow foreign powers with hidden agendas to manipulate our internal challenges. Unity and mutual understanding are key to national survival,” he stressed.
The Council also called on the Federal Government to respond firmly to Washington’s decision, urging President Bola Tinubu to go beyond diplomatic statements.
“The government must take concrete action, even if it means reconsidering our diplomatic relations, to show that Nigeria will not tolerate such unjust classification,” Rahman stated.
The Punch had earlier reported that former US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social shared via the White House’s official X handle, declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” following reports of Christian persecution.
Under US law, the designation—typically made by the Secretary of State—signals that a country is accused of violating religious freedoms or engaging in acts contrary to universal human rights standards.
