*Insists Trumps claims of genocide against Christians not true
By Citizenship Newspaper
The Spokesman of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, has again denied claims by the US President Donald Trump of genocide against Christians in the country.
Imomotimi reaffirmed Nigeria’s earlier position that there is no genocide against Christians anywhere in the country.
He spoke on Sunday during an interview session on a Qatari-based Al Jazeera Television interview, saying that nowhere in the country have Christians been singled out or targetted for genocide.
He said Nigeria experiences terrorist attacks by Boko Haram, ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates in predominantly Muslim communities in the North East and North West, with bandits and herders/farmers crisis experienced in parts the North Central.
He said while majority of the victims of the terrorist attacks are mostly Muslims in the North East and North West, some Christians also lost their lives especially in attacks by bandits, as well as farmers/herders crises in parts of the North Central.
He said Nigeria welcomes assistance by its foreign partners, including the US to end terrorist activities in the country, but that it must be consistent with the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
Nigeria, he said, does not welcome any direct or unilateral strikes on its territory by foreign troops, as that is a violation of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He said the government of Nigeria is religiously tolerant, and respects the freedom of worship of its citizens, Christians, Muslims as well as traditionalists, adding that any loss of life of its citizens across all faiths is loss to the government.
He said the President had recently changed military chiefs with an order for them to bring terrorist activities in the country to an end.
He said the President told the new military chiefs that he would not entertain excuses anymore.
He said it will not be fair to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern in view of the ongoing strident efforts by the government to fight terrorism in the country.
US President Donald Trump had alleged large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and proceeded to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
Reacting earlier via a statement on Saturday day November 1, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the US President’s remarks didn’t reflect the situation of things in Nigeria.
Ebienfa said: “While Nigeria appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom, these claims do not reflect the situation on the ground.
Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.
“Nigeria will continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.”
