By Salim Umar Ibrahim
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has rejected claims reportedly contained in a recent bill before the United States Congress alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing the narrative as false and dangerous.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, the council also condemned what it described as the “targeting” of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in connection with the allegations.
The council said while Nigeria faces serious security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and organised criminal violence, there is no state-sponsored or religiously driven policy of extermination against Christians.
It stated that reducing Nigeria’s complex security crisis to what it called a “simplistic genocide narrative” was not only misleading but could further inflame tensions within the country.
The SCSN expressed concern that legislative and policy positions abroad appeared to be based on what it described as sensational and unreliable data, including media reports, which it said lacked sufficient understanding of Nigeria’s conflict dynamics.
It criticised what it termed the reliance on unverified commentaries and anecdotal accounts, arguing that grave international decisions should be based on credible research and engagement with knowledgeable institutions.
On the reported mention of Kwankwaso in the US legislative process, the council described it as unjust and selective, arguing that singling out one individual among Nigeria’s political class reflected bias rather than fairness.
It said Nigeria’s deeper challenge lies in economic hardship and governance failures that have fuelled poverty and insecurity, urging observers to focus on structural issues rather than scapegoating individuals.
The council further said Kwankwaso’s opposition to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution might have contributed to what it termed his “targeting.”