Boko Haram Has Killed More Muslims Than Christians, No Genocide in Nigeria — Lai Mohammed

By Chisom Adeaze

Former Information Minister Lai Mohammed dismisses claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria, says insurgency has claimed more Muslim victims.

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has rejected claims that Christians are being targeted for genocide in Nigeria, insisting that insurgent violence has affected Muslims more severely.

Speaking during an interactive session with students at Abbey College Cambridge in the United Kingdom, Mohammed described allegations of a “Christian genocide” as false and misleading, urging the international community to better understand Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

According to him, the activities of Boko Haram cannot be reduced to religious persecution, noting that the group initially targeted Muslims who embraced Western education.

“At the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were largely Muslims, not Christians,” he said, explaining that the group emerged as a revolt by extremist elements against conventional Muslims.

He added that the insurgents later expanded their attacks to include Christians in order to draw global attention, as violence within Muslim communities initially failed to generate widespread international reaction.

Mohammed also dismissed claims that banditry in northern Nigeria is driven by religion, describing it instead as criminal activity largely affecting people within the same ethnic and religious groups.

“The bandits are Muslims and their victims are also Muslims. So it has nothing to do with religion,” he said.

He maintained that available data shows Muslims account for the majority of victims of insurgent attacks in the country.

Highlighting Nigeria’s history of religious tolerance, Mohammed argued that religion rarely drives everyday conflicts among citizens, noting that economic challenges are a more significant source of tension.

He cited the interfaith marriage of President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as an example of Nigeria’s diversity and coexistence.

Reiterating his position, Mohammed called for more accurate narratives about Nigeria’s security situation, stressing that misinformation could worsen tensions rather than help resolve them.