NSCIA accuses foreign forces, local christian group of fueling religious tensions in Nigeria, News Live Nigeria reports.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has accused certain local and international actors of promoting false narratives intended to divide Nigerians along religious lines and destabilize the country.
In a strongly worded press release titled “Let’s Call a Spade a Spade About the Real Enemies of Nigeria”, the Council dismissed recent claims circulating on international platforms that the Nigerian government is involved in a systematic campaign against Christians. The NSCIA described such allegations as “false” and “a propaganda tool” aimed at discrediting Nigeria and sowing discord among its citizens.
The Council expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s efforts to refute the allegations but urged it to “speak the whole truth” by identifying the local actors responsible for spreading divisive narratives. According to the statement, some individuals within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have been engaging in activities that “verge on treason” for material and political gain.
“The negative profiling that Nigeria currently suffers all around the world is largely the aftermath of the activities of some Nigerian citizens… who have found a big business in self-flagellation,” the Council said.
The NSCIA alleged that these individuals have exploited religious differences to attract international sympathy and funding. It also criticized what it called attempts by “political desperadoes and religious irredentists” to plunge the nation into a religious war, particularly during and after the 2023 presidential election.
The statement further accused CAN and its affiliates of blackmailing the government over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and of leveraging international support to “generate imbalance, undue sympathy, and Islamophobia.”
Citing a recent directive by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) that prohibited partnerships between conventional insurers and Takaful (Islamic) operators, the NSCIA said such policies reflect “bias against Muslims and Islamic financial practices.”
The Council also criticized the Federal Government for allegedly overlooking Muslim representation, particularly in the security sector and during official visits. It noted that while the President met with Christian leaders during a recent trip to Plateau State, there was “no recognition for the oppressed Muslim minority in the state.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national unity, the Council said it “strongly believes in one and indivisible Nigeria” and would continue to promote peace despite provocations.
“Council strongly believes in one and indivisible Nigeria, and it shall continue to work to preserve this ideal even in the face of the greatest provocation,” the statement concluded, signed by Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Deputy National Legal Adviser of the NSCIA.