In a recent episode of Piers Morgan’s show, intense discussions unfolded surrounding allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, faced off against former Canadian lawmaker Goldie Ghamari regarding claims of systemic persecution of Christians in the country.
Tuggar Disputes Allegations of Genocide
During the broadcast, Tuggar challenged statistics presented by Morgan from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety). These statistics indicated that over 50,000 Christians have died and 18,000 churches have been destroyed in Nigeria since 2009. Tuggar refuted these figures, emphasizing that the Nigerian government does not categorize fatalities based on religion. Instead, he insisted that all victims are regarded equally as Nigerians.
When pressed for official statistics on recent violence, Tuggar mentioned that only 177 Christians were reported killed and 102 churches attacked over the past five years.
Ghamari’s Perspective on Violence
Tensions escalated further with Ghamari’s input, where she characterized the violent events in Nigeria as jihad. She linked these attacks to the infamous Hamas assault on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. Ghamari asserted, “When someone yells ‘Allahu Akbar’ before they massacre people, that’s not just banditry. That’s jihad.”
Additionally, she claimed a connection between the Nigerian government and the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling into question the motives behind the treatment of Nigerian schoolchildren who reportedly idolize the Iranian leaders.
Contradicting Claims
Tuggar responded sharply to Ghamari, deeming her assertions as unfounded and trivializing the lives of Nigerians. He emphasized that violence affects both Christians and Muslims alike, relating his personal experiences as a victim of Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re Muslim or Christian,” he stressed, indicating that Boko Haram’s primary targets are Muslims who are perceived to be deviating from their ideology.
Complexities of the Situation
When Morgan redirected the conversation back to Ghamari, she reiterated that the violence against Muslims did not discount the claims of a targeted ethnic cleansing of Christians in Nigeria. Tuggar retorted by accusing her of igniting conflicts without understanding the local context. He argued that her interference could jeopardize Nigeria, a crucial player in Africa’s stability.
- Claims of 50,000 Christian deaths and 18,000 church destructions disputed by Tuggar.
- Official figures mentioned by Tuggar: 177 Christians killed, 102 churches attacked in five years.
- Ghamari linked attacks in Nigeria to October 2023 Hamas assault.
- Discussion on Nigerian government’s links to Iran raised by Ghamari.
- Tuggar highlighted the religious violence equally affects Muslims and Christians.
International Reactions
In the broader context, the U.S. government has characterized Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to the alleged genocide of Christians, as stated by former President Donald Trump. He described the threats faced by Christians in Nigeria as existential, prompting calls for congressional investigations into the situation.
Despite these international statements, the Nigerian federal government has rejected the genocide claims, asserting that such allegations are unfounded.
