morGANABLE politics/Governance
The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address insecurity, stating that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had intensified intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency collaboration and strengthened military operations across affected regions.
KaNo—
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has cautioned against framing Nigeria’s security challenges along religious lines, warning that such narratives could inflame tensions and undermine national unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Idris gave the warning on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the grand finale of the 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles, held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
According to a statement shared by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation on its official X account on Thursday, the minister urged religious leaders, particularly within the Christian community, to use their influence to promote truth, peace, tolerance and responsible citizenship among Nigerians.
He stressed that no Nigerian should face discrimination, violence or exclusion on the basis of religion, noting that the Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion for all citizens.
“Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the Federal Government remains committed to protecting every citizen’s right to worship and practise their faith freely,” Idris said.
“No Nigerian should be attacked or discriminated against because of religion. Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths should be able to live and worship in peace.”
Minister Expresses Concern Over Attempts To Portray Insecurity As Religious Conflict
The minister, however, expressed concern over attempts in some quarters to portray insecurity as a religious conflict, insisting that terrorist and criminal groups have targeted Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides.
“At the same time, we should not allow our security challenges to be wrongly presented as a religious war,” he said.
“Terrorists and criminal groups have attacked Nigerians of different faiths and backgrounds, and their objective is to create fear and undermine our national unity.”he added.
Idris highlighted ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address insecurity, stating that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had intensified intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency collaboration and strengthened military operations across affected regions.
He said the government had also expanded its international partnerships, particularly in areas such as intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, defence training and border security.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government has strengthened intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and military operations, with significant gains recorded against terrorist and criminal networks,” the minister said.
“Our international partnerships have also grown stronger. Cooperation with the United States and other friendly nations covers intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, training, defence and border security.”
Minister Says Global Partnership Complementing FG Efforts
He added that Nigeria was not confronting its security challenges in isolation, noting that global partnerships were complementing domestic efforts to improve safety and stability.
“The message is clear: Nigeria is not facing these threats alone,” Idris said.
“We will continue to work with our international partners while strengthening our own capacity to protect Nigerians. But security ultimately requires the cooperation and vigilance of all citizens.”
The minister emphasised the strategic role of religious leaders in shaping public opinion, describing the church as a powerful institution with influence over millions of Nigerians.
“Millions of Nigerians look to their pastors, bishops and other religious leaders not only for spiritual guidance, but also for direction on issues that affect their families, communities and the country” he stated
“That influence comes with responsibility. At a time when misinformation, hate speech, religious intolerance and political tension can spread within minutes, the pulpit and other platforms of religious communication should remain places where truth, peace and responsible citizenship are promoted.”he added
Minister Urges Caution Ahead Of 2027 Elections
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Idris urged religious leaders to exercise caution in their public engagements and messaging, particularly in distinguishing between political disagreements and religious hostility.
He acknowledged the right of citizens, including religious leaders, to hold and express political opinions, but warned against allowing political competition to deepen existing fault lines.
“As we approach the 2027 general elections, this responsibility will become even more important,” he said.
“Political competition is part of democracy. Nigerians have the right to support the political party or candidate of their choice.
“Religious leaders also have the right, as citizens, to hold political opinions, but we must draw a clear line between political disagreement and religious hostility.”
The minister reiterated that Nigeria’s diversity should be seen as a strength rather than a source of division, cautioning against rhetoric that could pit religious or ethnic groups against one another.
“We must therefore be clear: no Nigerian should be attacked, threatened or discriminated against because of his or her faith,” he said.
“Christians must be able to worship freely. Muslims must be able to worship freely. People of other faiths and those who hold different beliefs should equally be able to live according to their conscience within the law.”he added.
“No election should be allowed to turn Christian against Muslim, Muslim against Christian, North against South, or one ethnic group against another,” Idris said. “Nigeria belongs to all of us.”
He urged religious leaders to encourage civic participation while promoting peaceful engagement with the democratic process.
“The message from our religious leaders should therefore encourage citizens to participate actively in democracy, examine the records and programmes of political candidates, vote according to their conscience, and accept legitimate electoral outcomes,” he said.
On the broader security situation, the minister described the government’s approach as comprehensive, combining intelligence operations, coordinated security responses and improved logistics to tackle threats across the country.
President Tinubu Directs Renewed Counter-Terrorism Strategy
He noted that the President had directed a renewed counter-terrorism strategy anchored on unified command, intelligence-driven operations, community stabilisation and sustained counter-insurgency efforts.
According to him, security forces have maintained pressure on terrorist and criminal networks, particularly in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.
“We are seeing results,” Idris said. “Our security forces have continued to put pressure on terrorist and criminal networks across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.”
He disclosed that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, about 1,000 terrorist elements, including several of their leaders, were eliminated in operations conducted in the North-East.
The minister also cited recent rescue operations as evidence of improved coordination among security agencies.
“In August, security agencies rescued 308 abducted Nigerians in Niger and Kwara States in a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
Idris concluded by reiterating the need for collective responsibility in addressing insecurity and preserving national unity, calling on religious leaders to remain steadfast in promoting peace and cohesion.
He stressed that while the government would continue to strengthen security frameworks, the role of citizens and institutions, particularly religious bodies, remained critical in building a stable and united Nigeria.
