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Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has dismissed US allegations that the government is complicit in attacks on Christians, describing them as distortions fueled by political and lobbying interests. His comments follow criticism from US lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, who accused Nigerian officials of enabling “mass murder” by Islamist militants. Tuggar argued that the violence stems from competition over land, water, and other resources, not religion, as Nigeria’s population and climate pressures intensify. He emphasized that Nigeria, a secular state, does not endorse religious persecution. This rebuttal comes as Nigeria navigates several delicate diplomatic issues with the US, including visa policies and trade agreements, while asserting its right to make independent strategic decisions for its own future.
SEMAFOR