By Peterside Rejoice
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday devoted part of its plenary to addressing growing international misconceptions about alleged religious persecution and faith-based killings in the country.
Proceedings began with the suspension of the first order of the day to allow consideration of a motion of urgent national importance titled “The Need to Correct Misconceptions on the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria.”
The motion, sponsored by the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, and co-sponsored by over twenty other lawmakers, raised concerns over what it described as the increasing spread of misleading narratives suggesting systematic attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
Presenting the motion, Senator Ndume said while such narratives might stem from genuine concern over insecurity in parts of the country, they tend to oversimplify the real situation, fuel religious suspicion, and project Nigeria negatively before the international community.
He reminded the Senate that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and equal protection for all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnic background.
Ndume therefore urged the Federal Government to adopt a transparent, data-driven communication strategy that would effectively counter misinformation, promote interfaith harmony, and ensure justice for all victims of violence regardless of religious affiliation.
He further called on the Senate to mandate relevant committees to work closely with the Executive arm and international partners to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and consolidate national unity.
Several lawmakers who contributed to the motion expressed support for its intent and objectives. Senator Suleiman Kawu (Kano South) and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) both noted that their constituencies enjoy peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, emphasizing that isolated criminal attacks should not be interpreted as religiously motivated killings.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his response, commended the sponsors of the motion and underscored the importance of responsible communication in protecting the country’s image.
Akpabio stated that the discussion highlights the urgent need for the Senate to convene a National Security Conference an initiative earlier proposed by the upper chamber to examine the roots of insecurity and develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s complex challenges.
He noted that beyond correcting false narratives, the conference would enable stakeholders to explore long-term strategies for national cohesion and religious tolerance.
After further deliberations, Akpabio directed that discussions on the matter be continued in a closed session to allow for more in-depth and sensitive considerations.
Subsequently, the Senate Leader moved a motion that the issue be discussed in an executive session on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The motion was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, and was unanimously adopted by the Senate.
With this resolution, the upper legislative chamber reaffirmed its commitment to fostering unity, promoting accurate narratives about Nigeria, and ensuring that religion is never weaponized in the country’s political or security discourse.
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