Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has dismissed claims that Christians are facing genocide in Nigeria, insisting that such narratives do not reflect the true nature of the country’s security challenges.
He made the remarks while speaking with students at Abbey College, Cambridge, in the United Kingdom during a session focused on governance, national issues, and youth participation in politics.
Responding to questions on alleged religious persecution, he rejected the claims outright, stating, “There should be more understanding on the part of the developed world. Now, people say that there is religious persecution in Nigeria and that there is genocide against Christians. It’s not true. It is fake news.”
According to him, Nigeria’s ongoing security problems are complex and cannot be reduced to a coordinated attempt to eliminate any religious group.
“Nigeria as a country has challenges that will not be resolved by genocide against any religion,” he said.
Mohammed explained that the early activities of Boko Haram were largely directed at Muslims, particularly those who embraced Western education, noting that many of the group’s initial victims were fellow Muslims.
“At the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were largely Muslims, not Christians. Boko Haram started as a revolt by extreme Muslims against conventional Muslims like me,” he stated.
He also highlighted the meaning behind the group’s name, linking it to its ideological stance.
“Look at the meaning of Boko Haram — ‘haram’ means forbidden or illicit, ‘boko’ means Western education. So for Boko Haram, I, Lai Mohammed, having gone to school, am an enemy.”
He added that the insurgents later began targeting Christians as well, suggesting it was a strategy to draw broader international attention.
“They realised that Muslims killing one another doesn’t gain traction. When Muslims start killing Christians, it causes an uproar. That is the honest truth,” he said.
