Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, has said that American Christians have a legitimate right to defend Nigerian Christians if they believe the latter are being persecuted.
Lawal stated this while speaking on Channels Television on Monday, amid growing international concern about religious violence and insecurity in parts of Nigeria.
According to him, the idea of Christians from other countries rising in defense of Nigerian Christians aligns with Biblical teachings on Christian solidarity and the moral duty of believers to protect one another.
“In the Bible, we are taught to be our brothers’ keepers,” Lawal said. “If American Christians decide to come to the aid of Nigerian Christians because they are in distress, that is Biblical. They are within their right to do so if Christians feel they are unable to defend themselves.”
Lawal’s comment comes days after reports that the United States government expressed concern over alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The issue drew renewed attention when former US President Donald Trump reportedly warned of possible military action if Nigeria failed to stop the violence against Christians and other minority groups.
In 2020 and again in 2024, the US placed Nigeria on its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom — a designation that allows Washington to consider sanctions or diplomatic pressure on nations seen to be failing to protect religious minorities.
The Nigerian government, however, has repeatedly denied allegations of religious persecution, insisting that the insecurity affecting the country is largely driven by criminal elements, banditry, and communal clashes, not religious bias.
Despite this, several Christian groups, especially in the Middle Belt and northern states, have accused authorities of failing to protect them from attacks by armed herders and extremist groups.
Lawal, who served as SGF under President Muhammadu Buhari, said the federal government bears the primary responsibility of protecting all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity.
He argued that when the government fails to provide security and welfare, it creates a vacuum that pushes vulnerable groups to seek help elsewhere, even internationally.
“The government should assure us they can give us the peace and prosperity we desire,” he said. “If they are unable to do that, they cannot blame any part of society that decides to seek help from anywhere.”
He noted that it is the duty of leadership to ensure that citizens feel safe and included, warning that neglecting this obligation fuels resentment, division, and desperation among communities.
Explaining his position further, Lawal said the Christian faith teaches that believers around the world share a common bond that transcends national borders.
He described this bond, often referred to as “Christian brotherhood,” as a Biblical principle that calls on believers to come to one another’s aid in times of distress.
“Defending fellow believers is rooted in Christian teaching,” he said. “The concept of brotherhood means that Christians anywhere in the world have a duty to stand for those who are oppressed or suffering.”
He, however, did not specify what form such support from American Christians should take, but emphasized that the moral and spiritual basis for their concern was clear.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced widespread insecurity in recent years. Communities across the north-central and north-western regions have been repeatedly attacked by armed groups, often described by locals as bandits or herdsmen.
In the north-east, the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province), have targeted both Christians and Muslims since 2009, leading to the deaths of thousands and displacement of millions.
Although the Nigerian government maintains that the conflict is not religious, many Christian leaders, especially in the Middle Belt, argue that attacks on churches and Christian villages have taken on religious undertones.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other faith-based groups have often called for stronger government action and international attention to what they describe as targeted killings.
Lawal’s latest remarks appear to reflect this growing frustration within parts of the Christian community who feel that global Christian networks should do more to highlight their plight.
Lawal’s statement has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some Christian groups praised him for speaking out boldly, others cautioned against foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
A pastor in Jos, Reverend Sunday Ayuba, told reporters that Lawal’s statement reflected the reality of the church’s suffering.
“Many of our people are dying silently. If our brothers abroad decide to help, we should not condemn it. The important thing is that lives must be saved,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian government had not officially responded to Lawal’s remarks.
However, senior officials have previously stated that Nigeria remains a secular nation, and that religious freedom is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
The government has also highlighted that it continues to work with both local and international partners to address insecurity and promote peace across all regions.