Television Nigerian

In response to questions from the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Disinformation Unit, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) clarified the sources and methodology used in its figures on claimed religious genocide in Nigeria.

The organization’s conclusions, according to Intersociety chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi, came from a variety of reliable reports, including a legal brief written by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appointed Amupitan as its chairman.

This comes after the BBC allegedly accused the group of falsifying and inflating numbers in order to promote a false narrative of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.

According to reports, US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to use force against Nigeria by designating it as a country of particular concern.

The US President cited the government’s inability to protect religious minorities and what he called persistent brutality against Christians.

The Nigerian government, however, vehemently denied that any religious organizations were persecuted there.

Intersociety clarified in a statement on Thursday that its statistics included events that occurred as early as 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency began. As a result, several churches in the North-East, the epicenter of the war, were destroyed or closed.

As part of the 312-page “Religious Freedom in the World 2025” report published by Aid to the Church in Need at the Vatican on October 21, 2025, Umeagbalasi stated that Amupitan prepared the legal opinion for a significant international report titled “Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community.”

Over 13,000 churches were destroyed or closed, according to the report’s legal opinion section. This statistic was first mentioned in Anna Mulder’s Open Doors Report (2015), which covered the Boko Haram conflict from July 2009 to December 2014, according to Intersociety.

It further stated that Ewelina Ochab, a renowned scholar and opponent of Christian persecution in Nigeria, was another source of inspiration for Amupitan.

Citing data published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in December 2024, which stated that 614,373 Nigerians perished from insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024, the rights group further encouraged the BBC to challenge the Nigerian government over its own data.

According to Intersociety, its data came from both primary and secondary sources, including as stories from domestic and foreign media, victim communities, research organizations, declassified state papers, eyewitness accounts, and diplomatic sources.

It is understood that the former officials filed a lawsuit to demand payment of their severance payments, which they said were authorized in their letters of appointment but went unpaid after their employment terminated.

After the National Industrial Court in Makurdi issued a summary judgment in favor of the claimants on December 13, 2024, their attorney, Barrister Ocha Ulegede, started the garnishee proceedings.

The state government allegedly failed to release the monies in spite of the ruling, which led to the legal enforcement procedure.

One of the recipients, Tahav Agerzua, applauded the decision and called it “overdue justice” in a statement made soon after the court session.

“Justice has been done.” We appealed to the appropriate authorities multiple times. According to reports, the Ministry of Finance approved funding toward the conclusion of the Ortom administration, and many beneficiaries had already been paid. “Those of us excluded just wanted justice,” he stated.

Agerzua went on to say that the group didn’t take legal action until all internal attempts had failed.

As of the time of publication, Fidelity Bank had received the garnishee order, but the money had not yet been made. According to court representatives, they are keeping an eye on the issue as instructed by the judge.

Drs. Bernard Doro and Kingsley Udeh were formally inducted into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday when President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to them.

According to reports, the event took place within the State House’s Council Chamber in Abuja at 1:52 p.m., just before the start of the first FEC meeting since July 2025.

Two states that had been without ministerial representation for weeks, Plateau and Enugu, now have their seats back in the federal cabinet after being sworn in.

Doro, a public health administrator and clinical practitioner with training in the UK, was nominated on October 21 to succeed Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who left the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction on July 31 after becoming the APC National Chairman.

Doro, who is from Kwall in the Bassa LGA of Plateau State, has more than 20 years of expertise in technology-driven health strategy, clinical medicine, and pharmacy.

The Presidency stated that he has worked extensively in the National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom and has various degrees in Advanced Clinical Practice, Law, and Pharmacy.

Udeh Takes Nnaji’s Place as Enugu’s Ministerial Position Returns
Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, resigned on October 7 because to issues with his academic credentials. Dr. Kingsley Udeh, who was previously Enugu State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, was sworn in to take his position.

Udeh was nominated by the President on November 4 and quickly confirmed by the Senate after being promoted to the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) just before.

With their appointment, Tinubu has 48 ministers in his cabinet.

President Tinubu chaired the FEC meeting after the formalities. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, gave the council an update on Nigeria’s restored access to the global capital market prior to the meeting going behind closed doors.

Edun revealed that Nigeria’s $2.35 billion Eurobond attracted $13 billion in investor orders and was oversubscribed by 453%.

“Barriers preventing investors will be removed during the next phase of changes. In order to boost investment and productivity, we will examine import limitations and tariffs,” he stated.

In order to maximize asset management for inclusive growth, he continued, the government is conducting a thorough examination of the Federation and federal balance sheets.

Edun declared, “We are tightening expenditure frameworks, ensuring reform gains are made available to all Nigerians, and improving fiscal reporting and budget realism.”

President Tinubu responded by praising the high level of investment interest and pointing out that Nigeria is still rebuilding confidence in its economy and fortifying diplomatic ties in spite of political difficulties.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to ending terrorism and creating a prosperous, inclusive, and peaceful country.

Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, has promised that the Nigerian Air Force will put civilian safety first and prevent collateral damage while conducting operations.

During his first meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, and other senior officers at NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Aneke made the pledge.

He added that the service will prioritize operational effectiveness, safety, and professionalism and that the decision is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s expectations for the military.

“To eradicate terrorism, eliminate threats, and deny safe haven to all adversaries of our nation, we will continue to work closely with sister services and other security agencies,” he declared.

He claims that by interacting with communities and making sure that missions are people-focused, the Air Force will improve civil-military relations.

“Preventing collateral damage and protecting civilian lives will continue to be a defining hallmark of our professionalism and operational discipline,” he continued.

According to Aneke, the strategic meeting would evaluate the force’s present position, pinpoint any weaknesses, and examine ways to improve efficacy.

The Air Chief also promised to follow the president’s orders to the letter, saying that operations and safety would be at the center of all leadership decisions.

“The aspirations of millions of Nigerians rest, in part, on what we do here—on how effectively we carry out our duties and safeguard the territorial integrity of our country,” he stated.

“Let me be clear: we won’t let them down. Ladies and gentlemen, we shall carry out Mr. President’s explicit and unambiguous instructions to the letter.

There won’t be any uncertainty in our stance. Now is the time to take action, and we will succeed.

Declaring the meeting open, the Air Chief thanked the President for his confidence.

Due to unintentional bombings that resulted in civilian casualties during counterterrorism operations, the Nigerian Air Force has been under public attention in recent years.

Leaders in the community and civil society organizations called for increased operational precision and accountability as a result of these instances.

A change toward precision-led and community-sensitive air operations was indicated by Aneke’s comments.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former presidential adviser, has requested that President Bola Tinubu speak to the country about the latest military invasion threat made against Nigeria by US President Donald Trump.

Baba-Ahmed expressed concern that the president had not yet personally addressed Nigerians about the incident in a statement he shared on his Facebook page on Thursday.

The president’s silence, according to Baba-Ahmed, conveys a concerning message about Nigeria’s leadership.

“President Tinubu should have spoken to Nigerians by now if he truly has capable advisers and understands the weight of his office,” he wrote. Ministers and their assistants should refrain from making statements at this time. The President should comfort the nation, explain our stance, and lay out the actions his administration plans to take. We come across as weak and aimless when we are silent.

He also warned against the president’s plans to visit the US to meet with Trump, calling such a move “ill-advised.”

“Tinubu shouldn’t even consider traveling to the United States to see Trump at this crucial time. It will only make Nigeria’s reputation worse—like getting slapped and grinning back,” he said.

Thus, Baba-Ahmed called on the president to take decisive action.

He declared, “Tinubu needs to act right away—appoint ambassadors, rebuild Nigeria’s diplomatic presence, and address the nation directly if he truly listens to those who care about this country.”

The Bola Tinubu government completely denied the prior report that Trump had threatened to send American military troops to Nigeria if the purported genocide against Christians was not stopped.

China, on the other hand, stated on Tuesday that it supports Nigeria and that it rejects any foreign meddling under the pretense of human rights or religion.

At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, “As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and threatening other countries with sanctions and force.”

In answer to inquiries over Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria, Ning made the statements.

Its inclusion on the U.S. list of nations that violate religious freedom was rejected by the Federal Government on Wednesday, citing “inaccurate data and misrepresentation” of the country’s security issues as the reason for the designation.

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s minister of information, made it clear that extremist violence has affected both Christians and Muslims and that the country is dealing with terrorism rather than religious persecution.

Claims of targeted religious persecution are refuted by the government. Over 13,500 militants have been neutralized and over 11,000 captives have been freed by President Tinubu’s administration since 2023. Nigeria is still willing to work with the United States on counterterrorism while emphasizing respect for each other’s sovereignty, he stated.

Nigeria still places a high priority on “the protection of all citizens regardless of religious affiliation” and national security, the minister continued.

Trump reaffirmed on Wednesday night that if the purported persecution of Christians in Nigeria goes unchecked, he is prepared to take direct action.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” he declared. The United States cannot watch helplessly as such crimes take place there and in many other nations. We are prepared, willing, and able to save the world’s great Christian population!