Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a veteran human rights lawyer with decades of experience, framed his response as both a personal and professional defense of his country’s realities. He emphasized his own background, noting that he was born and raised as a Christian in a diverse Nigerian society. This personal touch was intended to underscore his credibility on matters of religious freedom and human rights. Keyamo highlighted his long-standing activism in the field, proudly recalling that he was honored with the Global Human Rights Award in Washington, D.C., in 2017. This accolade, he implied, positions him as an authoritative voice against any form of persecution, particularly on religious grounds.
In the letter, Keyamo directly confronted the core of Trump’s allegations. “It is simply not true that Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria for persecution, killings, or harassment on account of their faith,” he declared unequivocally. He went further to state that it would be morally unacceptable—“unconscionable,” in his words—for him to serve in any government that engaged in or tolerated such targeted actions against Christians or any religious group. This statement serves as a personal guarantee from a high-ranking official who has dedicated much of his career to advocating for justice and equality.
The minister provided a broader context for the violence plaguing parts of Nigeria, attributing it not to religious targeting but to the activities of extremist and criminal elements. He specifically named groups such as Boko Haram, armed herdsmen involved in farmer-herder clashes, and cattle rustlers as the primary culprits behind the insecurity. Keyamo was careful to point out that these challenges are not new phenomena tied to the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rather, they predate the present government by many years and have impacted Nigerians across all religious divides—Muslims, Christians, and adherents of traditional beliefs alike. Victims of these attacks, he explained, include people from various ethnic and faith backgrounds, making it inaccurate to frame the violence as a deliberate campaign against Christians.
To bolster his argument about Nigeria’s commitment to religious harmony, Keyamo invoked the country’s constitutional framework. “Nigeria is a secular state,” he affirmed, which “guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the adoption of a state religion.” This secular status, enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, ensures that no faith is privileged over another and that citizens are free to practice their beliefs without fear of state-sponsored discrimination. The minister positioned this legal foundation as evidence of the government’s dedication to tolerance and inclusivity, countering any narrative that suggests official complicity in religious persecution.
Delving into the composition of the current administration, Keyamo offered concrete examples to illustrate religious balance at the highest levels of power. President Tinubu, a Muslim, is portrayed as a moderate leader with deep interpersonal and familial connections to the Christian community. Notably, Tinubu’s wife is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal denominations. Additionally, several of the president’s children are practicing Christians, further embedding Christian influences within the first family. Keyamo argued that these ties demonstrate Tinubu’s personal investment in interfaith harmony.
The minister extended this analysis to the security apparatus of the state. He highlighted that many of the Service Chiefs—key military and intelligence leaders appointed by President Tinubu—are themselves Christians. This includes positions such as the Chief of Defence Staff and heads of various armed forces branches. Keyamo posed a rhetorical question: How could it be logical to accuse a government of targeting Christians when Christian officers are at the forefront of formulating and executing security policies? Such appointments, he contended, refute any notion of systemic bias or complicity in faith-based violence.
Throughout the letter, Keyamo urged President Trump and the broader U.S. government to adopt a more nuanced and informed perspective on Nigeria’s security challenges. “We ask that you broaden your sources of information to gain a balanced view of events in Nigeria,” he wrote. He criticized reliance on “inaccurate external narratives” that may stem from biased or incomplete reporting, often amplified by international advocacy groups or media outlets with specific agendas. Instead, the minister advocated for direct collaboration, proposing that the U.S. partner with Nigeria to address the root causes of terrorism and insurgency.
This call for partnership was framed within the context of longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations. Nigeria and the United States have historically cooperated on counterterrorism efforts, including intelligence sharing, military training, and capacity building to combat groups like Boko Haram and its offshoots, such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and the protection of all its citizens, regardless of religion. He expressed hope that strengthened ties would lead to more effective strategies against the shared enemy of extremism.
The open letter concludes on a conciliatory yet firm note, positioning the rebuttal not as a confrontation but as an opportunity for dialogue and mutual support. By addressing Trump directly, Keyamo aimed to correct the record while inviting American assistance in tackling Nigeria’s enduring problems. The minister’s message resonates with a broader theme: the need for accurate information in international discourse to avoid misunderstandings that could strain diplomatic relations or hinder joint efforts against global threats.
In summary, Festus Keyamo’s open letter to President Donald Trump serves as a comprehensive defense of Nigeria’s record on religious freedom. It dismantles claims of targeted killings of Christians by providing historical context, constitutional assurances, examples of interfaith leadership, and a plea for collaborative action. At over 900 words, this response underscores the minister’s determination to set the narrative straight and foster productive U.S.-Nigeria relations in the fight against terrorism. The document, titled in part as “Claims of targeted killing of Christians in Nigeria are false,” has sparked discussions on social media and among policymakers, highlighting the importance of verified facts in addressing complex geopolitical issues.
