The Nigerian Senate is set to deliberate on a critical motion seeking to challenge what it describes as dangerous misrepresentations of the country’s security challenges, particularly the growing international narrative portraying ongoing violence in parts of Nigeria as a “Christian genocide.”
The motion, which will be formally presented upon the resumption of the Senate in plenary by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), a former Senate Leader, is titled: “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities.”
Co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North), and Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), the motion is expected to generate robust debate when it comes before the upper legislative chamber.
In the draft of the motion obtained by The Guardian, Senator Ndume argues that while Christian communities in Nigeria have indeed suffered tragic attacks, it is inaccurate and potentially inflammatory to frame the country’s security crisis as religiously one-dimensional.
“Mischaracterising the crisis in purely religious terms risks inflaming sectarian divisions, misguiding international policy, and undermining national unity,” the draft states.
The motion emphasises that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and stem from a mix of terrorism, insurgency, communal clashes, banditry, and criminality, affecting Nigerians of all religious, ethnic, and regional identities.
The motion warns against the consequences of oversimplified narratives gaining traction abroad, particularly recent moves in the United States Congress and Senate to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged religious persecution.
The motion outlines several key resolutions for the Senate to consider, including rejection of the genocide label.
The Senate is to officially reject the blanket characterisation of the violence as a “Christian genocide,” describing it as a dangerous oversimplification of multifaceted national crises.
The motion is also seeking a government communication strategy by urging the Federal Government to deploy more data-driven and transparent public communication, especially through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security agencies, to counter misinformation with verifiable facts and figures.
The motion calls on religious leaders, civil society groups, and the media to exercise restraint and responsibility, especially in public statements and reporting that could inflame sectarian tensions.
Foreign diplomatic missions, particularly the US Embassy, international media, and human rights organisations, are also being encouraged to rely on balanced, verifiable, and credible sources in their assessments of Nigeria’s religious freedom and security landscape.
The motion is also charging the Senate to mandate relevant Senate committees, including Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, and Information, to work closely with the executive to develop a coordinated national communications strategy; engage US lawmakers, international partners, and diaspora groups through briefings and publications; and support interfaith peacebuilding initiatives aimed at promoting national unity.
The Ndume motion also calls for renewed efforts by the Federal Government to deliver justice for victims of violence, irrespective of religious background, in order to tackle impunity and rebuild public trust.
The debate comes at a sensitive time in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements, particularly with Western governments, where advocacy groups and religious lobbies have intensified campaigns portraying Nigeria as a hostile environment for Christians.
Senator Ndume’s motion appears to be a strategic effort to reclaim the narrative by asserting that both Christians and Muslims have borne the brunt of the country’s prolonged security crisis.
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as the motion notes, guarantees freedom of religion and equal protection under the law — principles that the motion insists must not be undermined by sensational or biased portrayals.
As tensions continue to mount over international scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights and religious freedom records, the upcoming Senate debate may mark a defining moment in how the country communicates its internal challenges to the world.
