Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, found himself in the hot seat during a recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where he faced rigorous questioning about allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Confrontation Over Christian Persecution Claims
The interview took a tense turn when British media personality Piers Morgan directly challenged Minister Tuggar about what former US President Donald Trump had referred to as Christian genocide in Nigeria. Morgan pressed the minister on the specific number of Christians killed in religious violence, creating a dramatic exchange that highlighted the sensitivity of the issue.
"You do seem to be avoiding my questions," Morgan interjected at one point, adding "You don't seem to know how many Christians have been murdered, which I find surprising." The minister immediately countered, stating firmly, "I am not avoiding your questions."
Nigeria's Stance Against Foreign Intervention
Minister Tuggar expressed significant reservations about President Trump's threat of foreign intervention in Nigeria, drawing parallels to the situation in Sudan. "We don't want to be the next Sudan," Tuggar asserted. "We will not allow ourselves to be the next Sudan. Where are the faith-based groups that were agitating... They are no longer there to fix Sudan."
The minister emphasized that Nigeria, as a member of the Peace Council of the African Union, is now left with the "heavy lifting" of regional stability. He argued against foreign interference, suggesting it often leads to prolonged conflict rather than solutions.
Complex Religious Dynamics in Nigeria
When pressed about the specific targeting of Christians, Tuggar presented a more nuanced picture of Nigeria's security challenges. He stated that many victims of violence "may not necessarily be Christians," pointing out that both churches and mosques have been attacked across the country.
"Nigeria is configured in such a way that you have Muslim and Christian populations all across the country," Tuggar explained. "There are, of course, states that have high concentration of Christians, same way there are states that have high concentration of Muslims."
The minister did provide statistics about churches attacked in recent years, reading from a prepared script, but maintained that the violence affects all religious communities. The interview, which took place on November 19, 2025, has sparked significant discussion about religious violence and Nigeria's approach to addressing security challenges while maintaining sovereignty.
