A former Nigerian aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised what he describes as “dangerous and misleading narratives” emerging from parts of the United States Congress regarding insecurity and religious violence in Nigeria.
The comments were contained in a lengthy statement he shared on Facebook.
Fani-Kayode said two “false narratives” dominate international discussions: claims that Christians alone are being targeted by Islamist terrorists in Nigeria, and counterclaims that Muslims alone are victims.
He argued that both communities suffer significant casualties and urged the Nigerian government to protect all citizens equally.
Reacting to recent remarks by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore and other Republican lawmakers during a congressional hearing on Nigeria, Fani-Kayode accused some U.S. officials of oversimplifying Nigeria’s complex security challenges and promoting “religious division.”
He described Moore’s tone as “condescending” and accused him of ignoring attacks on Muslims.
The former minister, however, praised several U.S. lawmakers, including Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who he said offered a more balanced view.
These members highlighted that violence affects both Christians and Muslims, warned against “false narratives,” and opposed any unilateral U.S. military intervention in Nigeria.
Fani-Kayode also condemned what he called “Islamophobic rhetoric” by some Republican members, accusing them of ignoring the broader context of global conflicts. He warned that such statements risk deepening divisions.
He argued that Nigeria faces “genocide against both Christians and Muslims” and called for stronger action from the federal government, alongside “genuine support” from international partners.
Fani-Kayode ended his statement by urging U.S. policymakers to adopt a more constructive approach and engage Nigeria through diplomacy rather than accusations or threats.
