By Erewunmi Peace

President Donald Trump has said that Muslims are also being killed in Nigeria, amid his renewed comments describing the country’s security crisis as a “Christian genocide.”

Trump made the remarks during a recent interview while speaking on religious violence and insecurity in parts of Nigeria.

Although he maintained his long-held view that Christians are being targeted, he acknowledged that Muslims are also victims of the ongoing violence.

Nigeria has for years faced widespread insecurity linked to terrorist insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.

Armed groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State-affiliated factions, and criminal gangs have carried out attacks that have affected both Christian and Muslim communities.

Security analysts and human rights organisations have repeatedly stated that while religious identity can play a role in some attacks, the violence in Nigeria is complex and multi-dimensional, driven by factors including extremism, poverty, land disputes, and weak security structures.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected claims that Christians are being systematically targeted, stressing that civilians of different religious backgrounds have suffered heavy casualties and that the crisis should not be framed solely along religious lines.

Trump’s comments have sparked renewed debate internationally, with critics warning that describing Nigeria’s situation as a “genocide” oversimplifies the conflict and risks misrepresenting the realities on the ground.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most populous nations, with a nearly equal population of Christians and Muslims, and authorities continue to call for international cooperation to combat terrorism and restore peace.