Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Saturday disregard the purported media reports stating 'Christians in Nigeria are slaughtered by radical Islamists.
In Abuja, the nation capital, Onanuga disclaimed the U.S Seceratary Marco Rubio comments on religious genocide fingered on Christians by the Fulani ethnic militias.
The U.S Secretary remarked that "The ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria by radical Islamists and Fulani ethnic militias is both tragic and unacceptable. As @POTUS said, the United States stands ready, willing, and able to act."
In response to the allegations, President Tinubu spokesman noted that "Muslim lives matter too." Onanuga informed Secretary Rubio that “there is no ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria.”
He noted that the occurrence of genocide attacks among the two religions has existed for over ten years, but has recently been overstressed and misinterpreted by netizens and media outlets, contrary to the established facts.
Onanuga described Secretary Rubio's remark as 'a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation.' He explained, 'What we have are sporadic attacks on some villages by bandits and terrorists, and these attacks are religiously insensitive.
"Christians, Muslims, churches, and mosques are attacked randomly,'' the spokesman noted.
Commending the U.S. support and interest in safeguarding the nations assets and its citizens, Onanuga outlined what Secretary Rubio believes is necessary for the country to dispel terrorists in Nigeria.
''What our country requires from America is military support to fight these violent extremists in some states of our country, not designation as a nation of particular concern.''