Lawmakers have rejected a U.S.-linked report alleging widespread attacks on faith-based communities in parts of Nigeria.
A U.S.-linked fact-finding team led by former Texas Mayor Mike Arnold has released a report alleging widespread attacks on faith-based communities in parts of Nigeria, drawing strong reactions from government officials and lawmakers.
Arnold, speaking in Abuja with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, said the findings were based on site visits, footage, and interviews documenting killings and displacement in the North and Middle Belt.
Lawmakers, however, dismissed the report as one-sided. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said Nigeria’s security problems go beyond religion, involving terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes.
The House proposed a Nigeria–U.S. joint fact-finding mechanism to verify the claims and guide future diplomatic actions.
Officials maintained that while Nigeria welcomes constructive engagement, external assessments should reflect the full complexity of the nation’s security challenges. The report’s release has renewed debate over how to classify and address violence affecting communities across the country.