The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has refuted claims suggesting that terrorist groups are carrying out genocidal attacks specifically targeting Christians in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the commission, ECOWAS clarified that terrorist groups in the region indiscriminately attack civilians of various religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians, and followers of other faiths.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the clarification followed recent comments attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump, alleging widespread genocidal killings of Christians in Nigeria.
ECOWAS urged the United Nations and the global community to disregard such claims, describing them as misleading and inconsistent with realities on the ground.
“The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wishes to draw the attention of its partners and the international community to the escalating violence being perpetrated by terrorist organisations across several countries in West Africa, including Nigeria.
“These violent actors target innocent civilians from all religious and social backgrounds — Muslims, Christians, and others alike.
“As multiple independent reports have shown, terrorism in the region does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, gender, or age,” the statement read.
The commission appealed to development partners to continue supporting West African nations in combating terrorism and violent extremism, warning that spreading false narratives could inflame tensions and undermine regional stability.
“ECOWAS calls on the international community to unite behind countries in the region as they work to end terrorism that threatens all communities,” it added.
NAN further reported that former U.S. President Trump had recently designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), alleging systematic persecution of Christians — a move that could influence U.S. foreign assistance or security cooperation.
The CPC status is one of the U.S. government’s strongest diplomatic tools for addressing perceived violations of religious freedom, potentially leading to sanctions or restrictions on aid.
In response, Nigeria’s Federal Government dismissed the designation as baseless, reaffirming its dedication to protecting all citizens, promoting religious tolerance, and intensifying efforts against terrorism and violent extremism nationwide.