16/02/2026
PRESS STATEMENT
On the Recent U.S. Congress Bill, False Claims of “Christian Genocide” in Nigeria,
and the Targeting of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has followed with grave concern the
recent bill and public narratives attributed to elements within the United States Congress,
falsely alleging the existence of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and, most astonishingly,
singling out Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a supposed enabler of such claims.
1) The Council states, without equivocation, that there is no Christian genocide in
Nigeria. While Nigeria undeniably faces severe security challenges, including
terrorism, banditry, and organized criminal violence, these crimes are not driven by
a state policy or religious agenda of extermination. The reduction of Nigeria’s
complex security crisis to a simplistic and emotive genocide narrative is not only
false but dangerously irresponsible.
2) The Council finds it deeply troubling that such far-reaching legislative and policy
positions appear to be informed by poorly generated, sensational, and unreliable
data, including narratives reportedly referenced by the New York Times, allegedly
sourced from individuals with toxic mindsets and little understanding of Nigeria’s
conflict dynamics. The absurdity of relying on commentary attributed to a trader in
Onitsha, lacking any expertise in security analysis, underscores the unseriousness
of the foundation upon which these grave accusations were based.
3) More disturbing still is the awkward and reckless call by the Nigerian First Lady,
for increased U.S. bombing in Northern Nigeria. The Council condemns such
statements in the strongest terms. Calls for foreign military bombardment of civilian
majority Muslim populated regions betray a shocking insensitivity to human life
and ignore the catastrophic humanitarian consequences such actions would entail.
Nigeria does not need prescriptions that risk turning criminal violence into largescale civilian tragedy. The Council is not opposed to seeking genuine international
assistance, whether technical, intelligence-based, economic, or humanitarian, in
order to decisively end insecurity. But the Council categorically rejects are illinformed, militaristic, and punitive approaches driven by false narratives rather than
facts and local realities.
4) The Council further finds it inexplicable and unjust that, among Nigeria’s vast
political class, many of whom live extravagantly from the plunder of public
resources, only Senator Kwankwaso was singled out in the bogus US legislation.
The real tragedy Nigeria faces is the systematic devastation of its economy, which
has plunged millions into poverty and hopelessness, thereby fuelling crime and violence. To ignore this structural reality while scapegoating one individual reflects
bias, not justice. The Council totally condemns the unfair denigrate of Senator Rabiu
Musa Kwankwaso to further an ethnic or political agenda.
5) Indeed, the Council notes that the only real “crime” of Senator Kwankwaso in the
eyes of his detractors is his principled opposition to the jaundiced designation of
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), premised on the same false
genocide narrative the Council and all right-minded Nigerians have repeatedly
debunked. His refusal to endorse a label that maligns Nigeria and deepens division
appears to be the true source of his targeting.
6) The Council reiterates its absolute condemnation of terrorism and criminal violence
in all forms in Nigeria, Palestine and anywhere else in the world, in full accordance
with the authentic teachings of Islam, which uphold the sanctity of human life. The
Council acknowledges that criminal killings in Nigeria affect both Muslims and
Christians, but it must be stated clearly that Muslim communities, particularly in the
North, have suffered disproportionately from insurgency and banditry. Any honest
discourse must recognize this shared pain rather than weaponize religion for
political ends.
7) The Council therefore calls on the United States government and its legislature to
exercise restraint, intellectual honesty, and due diligence, engage credible Nigerian
institutions, and abandon narratives that inflame tensions rather than resolve them.
Nigeria requires sincere partnership grounded in mutual respect, not misinformation
that undermines peace and coexistence.
Nafiu Baba Ahmad, mni
Secretary General
Issued this 27th day of Sha‘aban 1447 AH (15th February 2026).