According to Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is attempting to protect the lives of Muslims, Christians, and Nigerians in general.
Idris stated that rumors that only the North is being assaulted were untrue and that Boko Haram fanatics target both mosques and churches.
Idris emphasized that Nigeria is religiously tolerant in an interview with CNN The Exchange.
“We believe and I would reiterate that we do have security challenges in Nigeria; we are not denying this or asking for denial in that direction,” he stated.
However, what we are saying is that we must convince Nigerians and the rest of the world that this government is genuinely striving to guarantee the safety of everyone, including Christians and Muslims coexisting peacefully.
“It is untrue to claim that only a specific area is being targeted. We are aware that some of these Boko Haram fanatics have attacked Christians in their churches and Muslims in mosques.
And for that reason, we need the world to understand that this problem does exist and that, as a religious matter, it is detrimental to our nation and will cause division.
“These extremists and criminal groups want the world to believe that there is a conflict between Muslims and Christians, which is completely untrue.
“The right to practice one’s religion is guaranteed by the Constitution, regardless of one’s faith. Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully and cooperatively in our government’s hierarchy.”
