The Senior Advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, Mr. Massad Boulos, has dismissed widespread claims that Christians are the primary victims of terrorism in Nigeria.
Boulos clarified that intelligence and reports available to the U.S. government reveal that Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated militants have killed more Muslims than Christians in the country.
His statement came in response to a recent post by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to what he described as a “Christian genocide.” The senator claimed that over 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, and that thousands of churches and schools have been destroyed by Islamist armed groups. Cruz also introduced a bill seeking sanctions against Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in the attacks.
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However, speaking with journalists in Rome after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Boulos described all terrorist killings as “deeply tragic” but emphasized that terrorism in Nigeria is not faith-based.
“Those who understand Nigeria’s situation know that terrorism knows no religion, tribe, or color,” Boulos said. “Muslims, Christians, and people of all ethnic backgrounds have been victims of these senseless acts of violence. In fact, Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians.”
The U.S. diplomat acknowledged the Nigerian government’s renewed efforts to combat insecurity, particularly under President Tinubu’s leadership, noting recent progress in the fight against insurgency and the farmer-herder crisis in the North-Central region.
“We’ve seen additional measures and resources deployed to restore peace in troubled areas,” Boulos added. “These steps are yielding visible results, and we look forward to further cooperation between both countries to completely eliminate terrorism.”
Boulos further described Nigeria as a model of religious coexistence, stressing that the nation has long been a “melting pot” of faiths where Muslims and Christians have lived peacefully side by side for centuries.
“Nigeria’s population is roughly split between Muslims and Christians,” he noted. “This has never been a serious religious issue and should not become one. We appreciate what President Tinubu is doing to maintain peace and stability, and the U.S. remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s unity.”
He concluded by reaffirming Washington’s partnership with Nigeria in promoting security, reconciliation, and development, emphasizing that peace and collaboration are vital to overcoming terrorism across all regions.
