The Kaduna State Chapter of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has strongly criticised the United States government’s recent classification of Nigeria as a “Country of Great Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, calling the designation unfair and misleading.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the Council’s Secretary, Engineer Hassan Abdul Rahman, faulted the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump for promoting what he described as a “biased, one-sided narrative” that does not reflect Nigeria’s complex security situation.
“The Council is displeased with this development, particularly the allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria,” Abdul Rahman stated. “The Trump administration should have taken the time to understand the full picture before drawing conclusions.”
He emphasised that Nigeria’s security crisis stems from “a complicated mix of ethnic, political, and economic factors,” rather than an organised effort targeting Christians.
“Statistics show that Muslims are, in many cases, the primary victims,” he said. “Reducing these issues to purely religious motives distorts the truth and undermines efforts to promote unity and peace.”
Abdul Rahman accused Western nations of selective concern, claiming that global outrage tends to peak only when Christians are affected, while violence against Muslims receives minimal attention.
“Whenever Muslims are killed, the West—including the U.S.—shows little concern,” he added. “Their focus is always on Christian-related incidents, which deepens distrust among Muslim communities.”
The SCSN also criticised the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), accusing it of promoting misinformation that worsens religious tensions.
“To CAN, who started these false claims, they must understand that if Nigeria collapses—God forbid—we will all face the consequences,” Abdul Rahman warned. “Christians, Muslims, and even non-religious groups will all be affected.”
He urged Nigerians to resist external attempts to inflame religious divisions and instead embrace unity, dialogue, and cooperation.
“Let us not allow foreign narratives to divide us. Through mutual understanding and collaboration, we can overcome these challenges,” he said. “We must address our issues internally without inviting foreign powers who may worsen the situation.”
The Council further called on the federal government to take stronger action in response to the U.S. designation, insisting that mere diplomatic statements are insufficient.
“Our stance is firm—we condemn this decision by the U.S.,” Abdul Rahman declared. “The government must respond decisively. If necessary, even severing diplomatic ties should be considered to underscore the seriousness of the matter.”
The U.S. designation follows heightened tension after Trump’s recent comments threatening action over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, a development that has intensified national debate.
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