The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has described recent claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria as false and dangerous, warning that such allegations are intended to fuel insecurity and undermine social cohesion across the region.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday, the regional bloc said terrorist groups operating in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, have targeted civilians of various faiths, Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other religions, without discrimination.
“As independent reports have confirmed, terrorist-related violence does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or age,” ECOWAS stated.
The commission urged the United Nations and other international partners to disregard what it called misleading claims and to continue supporting West African governments in combating terrorism.
“ECOWAS strongly rejects these false and divisive narratives that seek to deepen insecurity in communities and weaken social cohesion in the region,” the communiqué added.
The regional body reiterated its support for member states facing insurgent violence and called for global solidarity in addressing terrorism in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.
The statement follows remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being massacred in Nigeria and threatened to withdraw aid over the killings.
