Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has sparked debate after claiming that only 177 Christians have been killed in the country over the past five years.
The statement came during his appearance on Piers Morgan’s show, where Tuggar sought to challenge reports alleging widespread violence against Christians and clarify official figures.
During the interview, Tuggar dismissed claims that tens of thousands of Christians had been killed, emphasizing that the government does not categorize victims by religion.
He stressed that all Nigerians are viewed equally and that portraying attacks as targeting a specific religious group is misleading.
Tuggar also disclosed that in the same period, 98 people were injured, seven were abducted, and 102 churches were attacked.
He added that these figures reflect Nigeria’s complex security challenges rather than a targeted campaign against Christians.
He urged the public and international observers to consider the broader context of violence in Nigeria, noting that attacks by insurgent groups affect citizens of all faiths.
However, his claims have been met with skepticism internationally. During a congressional hearing in Washington, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore questioned the accuracy of Tuggar’s numbers, highlighting the wide discrepancy between the minister’s data and reports from civil society organizations.
Moore expressed concern over what he described as a “gross understatement” of the scale of violence, stressing the importance of transparency and reliable reporting from the Nigerian government.
