Boko Haram, ISIS kill more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria - Trump's Adviser
President Donald Trump’s senior envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, has dismissed what he described as a “disinformation campaign” by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and others alleging a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Speaking in Rome after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Boulos said such narratives were misleading and did not reflect the complex realities on the ground.
He stressed that terrorism in Nigeria affects all communities regardless of faith or ethnicity.
“This is certainly unfortunate. Of course, any incident or loss of life is absolutely tragic,” Boulos said in response to questions about the U.S. government’s stance on the matter.
“Those who know the terrain well understand that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe.
The envoy explained that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of extremist violence in Nigeria, countering claims that one religious group was being systematically targeted.
“People of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of terrorist acts. It is very unfortunate. We even know that Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians,” Boulos noted.
“So, people from all backgrounds are suffering. This is not specifically targeted at one group or the other. However, any loss of life is one too many, and we must work together in partnership to put an end to this.”
Addressing the recurring violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Boulos acknowledged that some incidents involved farmers and herders but cautioned against interpreting such conflicts solely through a religious lens.
“There are other incidents that occur in the Middle Belt, for example, where farmers, most of whom happen to be Christians, are located,” he explained.
“Sometimes, when herdsmen pass through these areas, clashes occur. But it’s not something we can say is specifically targeted at a particular group. Nonetheless, we must continue to work together to end these incidents,” he added.
Boulos praised President Tinubu’s administration for taking concrete steps to address insecurity and promote national unity.
“The Nigerian government under President Tinubu has recently taken additional measures and deployed more resources to those areas, and we’ve seen some improvements in recent weeks,” he said.
“We appreciate those measures and look forward to seeing more efforts aimed at ending these kinds of acts, wherever they originate.”
Describing Nigeria as a model of co-existence, the envoy lauded its multi-religious character and resilience.
“Nigeria is a melting pot, a country where people of different religions, ethnicities, and tribes have lived together in harmony for centuries,” he stated.
“The Nigerian population is roughly split 50-50 between Christians and Muslims. So, this has never been a serious religious issue, and it should not be.”
Boulos concluded by reaffirming the U.S. government’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism and foster peace.
“We appreciate what the President has been doing to maintain peace and unity,” he said, calling for greater international collaboration to end extremist violence.
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