Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has faced significant criticism online after he dismissed allegations of a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria, labeling such claims as “fake news.”
While speaking to students at Abbey College, Cambridge, on April 21, Mohammed contended that Nigeria’s security issues are intricate and not based on intentional religious extermination.
He stated, “There needs to be more understanding from the developed world. People claim there is religious persecution in Nigeria and that there is genocide against Christians. This is not true; it is fake news.” He emphasized that the country’s problems “will not be solved through genocide against any religion.”
Mohammed noted that Boko Haram initially targeted Muslims who adopted Western education, indicating that early victims were mainly Muslims. “In the beginning, the victims of Boko Haram were predominantly Muslims, not Christians.
Boko Haram originated as a revolt by radical Muslims against mainstream Muslims like me. ‘Haram’ means forbidden, and ‘boko’ refers to Western education,” he explained.
He further stated that the group later began attacking Christians to attract global attention, saying, “They realized that Muslims killing each other doesn’t generate much interest. When Muslims kill Christians, it creates a significant outcry. That is the honest truth.”
Additionally, Mohammed dismissed the notion that banditry is driven by religious motives, asserting that most victims of such violence are Muslims. He highlighted Nigeria’s history of religious coexistence, referencing interfaith relationships and the example of President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim whose wife is a prominent member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
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His remarks have since provoked strong reactions on social media, with many Nigerians discussing the nature of the country’s security crisis and the influence of religion on the ongoing violence.
User @Bunmibae commented, “Lying comes to him as naturally as breathing. A compulsive, congenital, pathological, and legendary liar. The one and only lie bender. Even the devil would be impressed.”
User @Femi_okoya remarked, “You’ve resumed your lying, but I somewhat believe you because since Boko Haram began targeting Christians, they gained international attention, even reaching the Trump administration. So, I won’t dismiss your statement entirely since there’s a grain of truth in it. The real question is, what did you do to address insecurity while you were Minister of Information?”
User @mojisolm8 stated, “Lai Mohammed calling it an ‘attention-seeking’ strategy is classic deflection. Boko Haram’s ideology has always been rooted in radical jihadism, targeting anyone who doesn’t conform to their interpretation of Islam, including Muslims.”
