FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says opposition figures are driving claims that Christians are being killed in Nigeria, describing the push as “politics too far.” He spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday and declined to name any politician or group. Pressed to explain who he was referring to, Wike repeated that it was “obvious” and left it there.
“Do not weaponise faith.”
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What Happening
The minister framed the moment as a messaging battle rather than a factual portrait of the security crisis. He argued that President Bola Tinubu’s style of politics has “collapsed the opposition,” and said rivals are now elevating a narrative of religious persecution to regain ground. He did not provide evidence for the claim, and he did not address data from security trackers that show Nigerians of different faiths have been victims of violence in different regions.
Wike’s comments land in a tense information space. Talk of a “Christian genocide” has gained traction in some quarters, even as other officials and analysts warn that the country’s violence has multiple drivers, including banditry, extremist attacks, communal clashes, and farmer–herder conflicts. Critics of the minister will say his intervention sidesteps the responsibility to publish hard numbers, arrests, and prosecutions. Supporters will say he is right to caution against turning faith into a political weapon.
What we know
Wike made the allegation on national television on Monday. He blamed opposition elements for pushing a persecution narrative. He did not name anyone or present documentation. He linked the trend to what he called the collapse of the opposition under Tinubu’s politics. No formal response from opposition leaders had been issued at the time of this report.
The political stakes are clear. Framing insecurity as a fight between religions hardens divides and distracts from practical fixes like better policing, intelligence sharing, faster trials for mass-violence cases, and support for victims. It also risks pulling community leaders into a blame game, where claims circulate faster than verifiable facts. If the government wants to cool the temperature, it will need regular briefings with district-level data, transparent case files, and timelines that show where progress is real and where gaps remain.
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Facts
For now, Wike has chosen to call out what he sees as opportunistic politics and to stop short of naming names. The next move is likely to come from opposition parties and faith leaders, who can challenge him to the evidence or join him in telling supporters to leave religion out of campaign tactics. Either way, Nigerians will be better served by numbers, not narratives.
