By Ayomide Otitoju
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused former United States President Donald Trump of misleading the global community by alleging that a “Christian genocide” is taking place in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana described Trump’s claims — that thousands of Christians are being systematically killed in Nigeria — as false and unsupported by credible evidence.
“My position is that Mr. Trump has lied to the whole world by alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria without any evidence to back it up,” Falana said. “He claimed that about 3,100 Christians have been killed, but the reality is that the perpetrators of violence — terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers — are not motivated by religion. They are after ransom or resources.”
Falana noted that while insecurity remains a serious concern across Nigeria, the violence is largely driven by criminal and economic factors rather than religious persecution.
His comments follow renewed diplomatic tension after Trump warned that he had directed the U.S. Department of Defense to prepare for possible military action against Nigeria, accusing the government of “allowing the killing of Christians.”
Falana condemned Trump’s remarks as dangerous and divisive, alleging that they reflect a long-standing bias against Africa and are part of a broader attempt to distort global perceptions of the continent.
