Ahlul-Bayt Community Upliftment Initiative Nigeria has disputed the United States claim of killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing the claims as false and mischievous.
In a statement entitled, “Nigeria is Not a Site of Anti-Christian Genocide,” and signed by its National President, Usman Umar Hassan, the group noted that President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and threat of military action against Nigeria over alleged genocide against Nigerian Christians was a matter of grave concern to all citizens committed to peace and unity.
Hassan said, “this designation and threat, rooted in false claims and mischievous elements, threatens to ignite religious disharmony and destabilize the delicate ethno-religious balance of our diverse nation.”
He said as group of socio-political organization dedicated to peacebuilding, community development, and promoting religious harmony, the Ahlul-Bayt Community vehemently disputes the narrative of a targeted Christian genocide in Nigeria.
“While we acknowledge and grieve over the severe and inacceptable levels of insecurity, violence, and loss of life affecting communities across the country, to frame this as a one-sided religious war is a dangerous oversimplification and a distortion of reality.”
Hassan revealed that in 16 different attacks from August 2014 to this year, Boko Haram and other terrorists as well as kidnappers and bandits have killed more than 471 Muslims, wounded 71 and kidnapped 31 others in different towns and cities across Northern Nigeria, adding that some of these attacks were carried in mosques during worships by Muslim faithfuls.
The statement gave the names of the towns and cities where such attacks have taken place to include Konduga, Potiskum, Kano, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Dakasoye, Molai-Umarari, Mubi, Ngazai, Mazakuka, Yasore and Funtua.
He said, “despite all these attacks, the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, live in peace and harmony with our Christian brothers and sisters, fostering an environment of mutual respect and
coexistence.
“The false claims of genocide are the handiwork of individuals and groups, both domestic and foreign, who seek to leverage Nigeria’s complexity for political and economic gain, sowing seeds of discord where collaboration is most needed.”
The Ahlul-Bayt Community Upliftment Initiative Nigeria has therefore, called for unity among Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations
“We call upon the Nigerian Christian community to join hands in debunking this divisive rhetoric and the threat it poses. We must recognize that our common enemies are not one another, but the criminal nonstate actors, the terrorists, the bandits, and the western interests who do not mean well to the entire country but seek to break our unity.
“We urge you to join hands with the government and other well-meaning Nigerians of all faiths in fighting these common enemies. Our strength lies in our unified national identity, and we must not allow foreign voices to define our internal reality for their own political and economic ends.”
“As it is well known to our Christian brothers and sisters the Shi’ite community in Nigeria and worldwide are advocates of inter religious harmony, understanding and always extend their hands of friendship to all irrespective of faith or ethnic background.”
While urging the Federal Government to be extremely vigilant of those external forces who are working hard to destabilize the country, the Ahlul-Bayt Community called for the strengthening of security, ensuring justice, and providing equal protection to all citizens, irrespective of their faith or ethnicity.
“The challenge is one of insecurity and criminal impunity, which requires a holistic and national response, not a sectarian one.
“Furthermore, a necessary step in defending Nigeria’s interest must be taken by reviewing diplomatic appointments.
“The Federal Government must look into the issue of appointing diplomats to critical international posts, ensuring that only highly competent, strategically
minded individuals are chosen. These diplomats must be equipped and empowered to
aggressively counter false narratives, present Nigeria’s complex security reality accurately, and effectively defend our national interests against hostile designations and sanctions.
“The Ahlul-Bayt Community warns Trump and the US Government against fueling crisis and religious disharmony among the diverse citizens of Nigeria, saying “the designations and threat, based on misleading and unverified information, only empower external forces and local agitators whose sole aim is to disaggregate and destabilize the country along religious lines.”
The Ahlul-Bayt Community also called on the international community to offer meaningful help in tackling the insecurity in Nigeria, “but not to fuel the situation with inflammatory rhetoric and divisive designations and threat of military action. Nigeria needs support in intelligence sharing, border security, counter-terrorism technology, and addressing the root causes of conflict, poverty, unemployment, and impunity, not political or military moves that will worsen internal divisions.”
