The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed claim by US Senator Ted Cruz that Nigerian officials were ignoring the mass killing of Christians asking him to “stop these malicious contrived lies”against Nigeria.
Cruz had alleged that Nigerian government officials were keeping sealed lips while Islamist jihadists were carrying out “mass murder of Christians” in the country.
“Officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists,” the senator wrote on X.
“It’s time to hold those responsible accountable. My Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act would target these officials with powerful sanctions and other tools.”
But In his response on the same social media platform, Onanuga warned the U.S lawmaker to stop the lies about Nigeria saying that the country does not have a religious war . He said that terrorists and bandits who have been degraded kill prejudicially due to religious affiliation
He wrote “Senator, stop these malicious, contrived lies against my country. We do not have a religious war in my country,” .
“The degraded Boko Haram terrorists operating on the fringes of Nigeria’s North-east target everyone. They attack farmers, our soldiers.
“The bandits in the North-west kill worshippers in their mosques. Christians are not targeted. We have religious harmony in our country. Stop these malicious lies.”
President Tinubu had said allegations of religious genocide in Nigeria were unfounded, noting that the country was built on the faith and resilience of its people.
Tinubu,who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Tuesday, said no religion was under threat in the country.
He noted that Nigerians, after 65 years of independence, have learned to appreciate their cultural and religious diversity.
