Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has accused US President Donald Trump of spreading false claims that Christians are being systematically killed in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Falana said Trump’s remarks suggesting a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria were not backed by credible evidence and misrepresented the country’s security challenges.
According to Falana, violence attributed to terrorists, bandits and armed groups in Nigeria is driven largely by criminal activity, resource disputes and ransom demands, rather than religious persecution.
“He told the world that 3,100 Christians have been killed in Nigeria. That narrative is not supported by facts on the ground,” Falana said. “These killers do not ask what religion you belong to. They are motivated by criminality.”
He noted that in areas such as Benue and Plateau, clashes are primarily linked to land ownership and grazing conflicts.
Falana said the Nigerian government should focus on addressing failures in security management instead of reacting to Trump’s recent comments and threats.
“Instead of losing sleep over Trump’s statement, the government must look inward and examine where mistakes have been made,” he said.
He also accused Trump of harbouring animosity toward Africa and linked his comments to geopolitical interests in the region.
Falana’s remarks come amid rising diplomatic tension after Trump publicly ordered preparations for possible military action against Nigeria, a move that has drawn criticism from several Nigerian officials and lawmakers.