Senior Adviser to the United States President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, has dismissed claims of religious persecution in Nigeria, saying terrorism in the country affects all faiths and ethnicities equally.
Boulos, who met with President Bola Tinubu on Friday during the 10th Aqaba Process Summit in Rome, said allegations that Christians were being deliberately targeted were “misguided and inconsistent with the realities on the ground.”
He told reporters that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians, describing terrorism as “indiscriminate and blind to religion or tribe.”
“Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no relation, no tribe. People of all religions and tribes are dying, and that is unfortunate. Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians, so people from all backgrounds are suffering. This is not specifically targeted at one group,” Boulos said.
He commended the Tinubu administration’s recent security measures and deployment of more resources to troubled areas in the Middle Belt, noting visible improvements.
“The Nigerian government and President Tinubu’s administration have put in additional measures and resources in those areas, and we have seen improvements. Nigeria is a country where Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries, and this should not become a religious issue,” he added.
Boulos said he discussed enhanced cooperation with Tinubu, particularly in counterterrorism and regional security.
“We talked about counterterrorism. What is happening in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin is a serious concern, not just for Africa but for the entire world. We are working closely with Nigeria to combat this,” he said.
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in strengthening maritime security across the Gulf of Guinea.
“There is already strong cooperation through information sharing, training, and technology. Nigeria recently purchased security equipment from the United States, and we hope to build on that to secure trade routes and strengthen stability in West Africa,” he said.
Boulos reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to working with Nigeria to ensure peace and security in the region.
