The National Patriotic Elders for Peace and Harmony of Nigeria has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prosecute citizens who allegedly reported the so-called massacre of Christians in Nigeria to former United States President Donald Trump.
The group described such actions as “treasonable felony”, arguing that reporting Nigeria’s internal security issues to a foreign government undermines the country’s sovereignty. The call was made in a press release signed by the President of the Elders, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz.
According to AbdulAziz, “Nigeria is a sovereign country with sufficient laws and legal backings to take care of every concern of its citizens. Reporting to other countries is nothing but downgrading the sovereignty of the nation, and anybody who does that should be punished.”
The elders’ statement comes amid a heated debate over claims that over 500,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 1999. Former President Trump and some Christian advocacy groups in the United States have repeatedly alleged that Christians in Nigeria are facing persecution and genocide.
The National Patriotic Elders urged Northern governors to immediately convene a regional meeting that includes all religious and ethnic groups to discuss insecurity and killings in the region. Dr. AbdulAziz said that Northern governors must take the lead in documenting incidents of violence, presenting factual and verifiable reports to the appropriate authorities.
“The silence of the Northern governors in the face of the growing American President Donald Trump’s threats of war is not golden,” AbdulAziz said. “The assumption that over 500,000 Christians were killed should be backed with facts, data, and figures by the Northern governors before the appropriate authorities and stakeholders. This could only be done when the governors are serious.”
Dr. AbdulAziz argued that the claims of Christian genocide ignore key facts about Nigeria’s insecurity. According to the elders, the majority of victims of violence in the country are Muslims. He pointed out that from 1999 to date, about 75 percent of those killed were Muslims, and the most affected areas are predominantly Muslim.
“A cross fact-checking would clearly show that most of those killed from 1999 to date, 75 percent are Muslims across the country. Places and towns affected by this grave insecurity are Muslim-populated areas. Often, these communities and towns are burned, lynched, and destroyed,” AbdulAziz said.
He highlighted the Northwest states of Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa as the areas most affected by killings and displacement. He also mentioned the Northeast states of Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe, stressing that Muslim populations suffered significant losses in both lives and property.
In the North Central region, which includes Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Benue, and Kwara, AbdulAziz said that although there is a higher percentage of Christians, most clashes arise from conflicts between nomadic herders and farmers. He argued that even in these areas, Muslims often bear the heaviest losses due to tribal tensions and hostility from hosting communities.
“Muslims lose their lives the most due to tribalism and violence by the hosting communities. This hostility often results in the killings of their families, destruction of their property, and displacement of herders,” AbdulAziz added.
The Elders also expressed suspicion about the motivations behind US claims of Christian genocide. AbdulAziz suggested that foreign governments might have political reasons for framing Nigeria as a country that persecutes Christians.
“We are of the belief that America has another agenda behind the issues of false Christian massacres, possibly because of the Government of Tinubu aligning itself with the Palestine/Israel two-state solution at the United Nations General Assembly, or because President Tinubu tilts toward France and other countries, and they are not happy,” he said.
Dr. AbdulAziz warned that any attack or sanctions against Nigeria could destabilize the wider African region. He pointed out that Nigeria plays a central role in maintaining peace and democracy across the continent.
“Any attack on Nigeria would mean destroying several African nations because most of them rely heavily on Nigeria. It would also affect democracy. Therefore, we are appealing to Trump to rethink his decisions,” he said.
Nigeria has faced persistent insecurity since the late 1990s, including attacks by Boko Haram in the Northeast, herder-farmer clashes in the Middle Belt, and banditry in the Northwest. According to security analysts, these conflicts are driven by a mix of ethnic, religious, economic, and political factors rather than a targeted religious agenda.
While some advocacy groups claim that Christians are being deliberately targeted, government data and independent reports suggest that Muslims have also suffered heavily, especially in northern Nigeria. Analysts argue that misrepresentation of these figures can inflame tensions and mislead international audiences.
The debate over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria has intensified in recent years, particularly as some foreign leaders and organizations cite exaggerated or unverified numbers to pressure the Nigerian government. Experts say this can harm Nigeria’s image and complicate international relations.
The National Patriotic Elders emphasized the need for unity and internal solutions to the country’s security challenges. They urged all Nigerians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, to reject narratives that divide the nation.
“Instead of going abroad to report Nigeria to foreign powers, Nigerians should work together to tackle insecurity internally,” AbdulAziz said. “Our country has the laws, structures, and capable citizens to address these issues without outside interference.”
The elders recommended inclusive regional dialogues to bring together governors, religious leaders, and community stakeholders. They argued that accurate documentation of attacks, displacement, and deaths is essential to inform national policy and counter false narratives.
Dr. AbdulAziz specifically called on Northern governors to take responsibility for collecting accurate data on insecurity and presenting it to the federal government. He said such efforts would ensure that public discourse reflects facts rather than political or religious bias.
“The Northern governors should document all killings and present a detailed report of insurgent activities based on different demographics and attributes. This is the only way to prevent misinformation and ensure that all citizens’ experiences are represented accurately,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s influence in Africa, AbdulAziz reminded foreign powers that destabilizing Nigeria could have serious regional consequences. He cited the country’s history of peacekeeping and democratic support across the continent.
“Nigeria has played central roles in keeping peace not only in Africa but across the globe, preserving democracy in many African countries,” he said. “Undermining Nigeria would have far-reaching consequences for the entire region.”
