— Says “Christian Genocide” Narrative is a Political Tool to Cripple Counterterrorism Efforts
By: Zagazola Makama
ABUJA — Prominent security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has lambasted U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore over his recent claims alleging the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria, describing the statement as false, baseless, and dangerously hypocritical.
Makama said the congressman’s remarks were part of a calculated campaign to weaponise religion for political ends and obstruct Nigeria’s access to vital military equipment needed to defeat terrorism.
“This entire narrative of so-called Christian genocide is not only false but deliberately crafted to cripple Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity,” Makama declared. “The same terrorists who attack churches also bomb mosques and kill Muslim villagers. They are not fighting for faith — they are fighting against peace.”
The analyst dismissed Moore’s claim that 7,000 Christians were killed in 2025, noting that no credible international organization — including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, or even the U.S. Embassy in Abuja — had produced any report supporting such figures.
“If the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, with its vast intelligence network, has never classified the violence in Nigeria as religious genocide, then where exactly did this Congressman get his statistics from? Certainly not from facts,” he asked.
Makama described as deeply disturbing the willingness of some members of the U.S. Congress to be misled by propaganda portraying Nigeria as a country at war with its Christian population.
He warned that any attempt to block arms sales to Nigeria under the guise of human rights or religious concerns would only strengthen the terrorists and prolong the suffering of innocent civilians.
“When you deny Nigeria weapons to fight terror, you are helping the terrorists who get theirs through illegal back channels,” he said. “That means the so-called human rights defenders in Congress are aiding mass murder by ensuring that innocent civilians remain defenceless.”
Makama also reminded the U.S. lawmaker that Washington itself had admitted earlier this year that some USAID funds ended up in the hands of terrorist-linked groups in the Sahel region — yet no one had been held accountable.
“Before pointing fingers at Nigeria, the U.S. should first look inward,” he charged. “Their own agencies have admitted to indirectly funding terrorists, and yet, they continue to lecture other nations about accountability.”
He described Moore’s comments as an “irresponsible and dangerous attempt” to sow religious discord and mislead the global community into viewing Nigeria’s security crisis through a sectarian lens.
“Nigeria’s conflict is not a Christian-versus-Muslim war. It is a fight between lawful citizens and violent extremists,” Makama stressed. “Any attempt to twist it into a religious war is dishonest and deeply irresponsible.”
Makama praised the bravery of Nigerian soldiers and civilians of all faiths who have sacrificed their lives defending the country, saying their efforts should never be undermined by foreign political actors promoting divisive narratives.
“Those who peddle this false narrative are not friends of peace,” he warned. “They are knowingly promoting religious hatred and helping the enemies of Nigeria by trying to cut off its access to essential defence support.”
The analyst urged the international community to rely on verified intelligence, credible data, and first-hand reports rather than politically motivated propaganda.
“If the U.S. truly stands for global peace and religious freedom,” he concluded, “it must stop empowering propaganda that fuels division and weakens nations fighting terrorism on the frontlines.”
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