Ulama Forum Condemns “False and Inflammatory” Claims of Christian Genocide in Nigeria

A prominent Nigerian Islamic scholarly body, the Ulama Forum, has issued a forceful rebuttal against what it describes as a dangerous campaign of misinformation circulating in international media. The Forum has expressed profound concern over reports and social media claims alleging that hundreds of thousands of Christians were killed in Nigeria last year, labeling such assertions as entirely unfounded and recklessly inflammatory.

In a strongly-worded statement jointly signed by its Convener, Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, and Secretary, Engr Basheer Adamu Aliyu, the Forum argued that these claims are not merely inaccurate but are strategically designed to misinform the global community and sow deep-seated division within Nigeria’s complex social fabric. The intervention highlights the growing tension between Nigeria’s internal security narrative and its perception on the world stage.

Deconstructing the Narrative of Sectarian Violence

The core of the Ulama Forum’s argument rests on contextualizing Nigeria’s security challenges. The statement acknowledges that the nation faces significant threats, including terrorism, rampant banditry, and persistent farmer-herder conflicts. However, it vehemently reframes these issues not as a religious war, but as widespread criminality that spares no one.

“These are criminal acts that affect both Muslims and Christians, not a targeted campaign against any faith,” the Forum emphasized. This perspective challenges a simplified, often sensationalized, international media narrative that tends to categorize complex conflicts along strict religious lines. By doing so, the Forum suggests that such oversimplification ignores the multifaceted drivers of violence, which include economic desperation, political instability, competition over scarce resources, and the proliferation of small arms.

But why does this misperception matter? The implications are severe. Inaccurate reporting can influence foreign policy, affect international aid and investment, and, most critically, exacerbate inter-communal tensions within Nigeria itself. When communities are pitted against each other based on false premises, the path to reconciliation and lasting security becomes infinitely more difficult.

The Overlooked Suffering of Muslim Communities

Perhaps the most compelling part of the Ulama Forum’s statement is its effort to redirect attention to what it calls a disproportionately affected and consistently underreported demographic: Nigerian Muslims. The Forum contends that while claims of Christian persecution are amplified globally, the immense suffering within Muslim communities, particularly in the country’s northwest, is often met with silence.

“In reality, the Muslim community in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest, has suffered disproportionately,” the statement reads. “Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have lost their lives in attacks by bandits, terrorist groups, and insurgents.”

This is not merely a rhetorical point. Regions like the historic Sokoto Caliphate have been epicenters of violence. Towns and villages have been repeatedly terrorized by criminal gangs who kidnap for ransom, pillage farms, and kill indiscriminately. The victims in these attacks are overwhelmingly Muslim. The Forum’s statement implies a troubling media bias, where the plight of one group is highlighted to the effective exclusion of another, creating a distorted and incomplete picture of the national crisis.

A Pattern of Misinformation and Its Dangerous Consequences

The circulation of exaggerated or blatantly false casualty figures is not a new phenomenon in conflict zones. However, in the digital age, the velocity and reach of such misinformation are unprecedented. Influencers and media outlets, sometimes with specific ideological agendas, can single-handedly shape global opinion, often with little regard for factual verification.

The Ulama Forum’s condemnation suggests that Nigeria is currently a victim of this dynamic. The claim of “hundreds of thousands” of deaths in a single year is so statistically extreme that it would represent a catastrophic event on a scale that would be impossible to conceal. National and international monitoring bodies consistently provide lower, though still gravely concerning, figures that account for all victims of violence regardless of faith.

So, what is the endgame of such misinformation? The Forum believes it is to “foster division within Nigeria.” By painting a picture of a state-sponsored or religiously-motivated genocide, bad actors can fuel reciprocal distrust and hatred between Christians and Muslims who have coexisted for generations. This erosion of social cohesion is perhaps as great a threat to Nigeria’s stability as the violence itself.

The Path Forward: Accurate Reporting and Unified Resilience

For Nigeria to navigate its way out of its security quagmire, a unified national approach is essential. This requires, first and foremost, an honest and nuanced understanding of the threats it faces. The Ulama Forum’s statement is a call for this nuance. It is a plea to international observers to look beyond easy stereotypes and to report on the suffering of all Nigerians with equal vigor and empathy.

It also serves as an internal call to action. By publicly denouncing false narratives, the Forum is positioning itself as a voice for peace and accuracy. It reinforces the idea that the conflict is not a zero-sum game between two faiths, but a shared national tragedy that demands a shared solution. The true battle, they imply, is not between Christians and Muslims, but between all law-abiding citizens and the criminals and terrorists who threaten their peace.

Moving forward, the responsibility falls on both local and international media to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Verifying sources, providing context, and avoiding inflammatory language are not just professional obligations—they are moral imperatives in fragile environments. The people of Nigeria, who bear the brunt of both the violence and the divisive rhetoric, deserve nothing less.

The Ulama Forum’s condemnation is a significant intervention in a heated informational war. It challenges a pervasive narrative and demands a more truthful, inclusive, and ultimately helpful conversation about the real challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation. The hope is that this call for accuracy will be heard, leading to reporting that unites rather than divides, and that contributes to healing rather than harm.

Full credit to the original publisher: The Syndicate – https://thesyndicate.com.ng/ulama-forum-condemns-allegations-of-christian-genocide-in-nigeria/