BY Professor Abdullahi Danladi
Resource Forum
Islamic Movement Nigeria
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has always stood firmly for peaceful coexistence, justice, and unity among all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or political leaning. The Movement regards Islam and Christianity as two great faiths of divine origin that call humanity to righteousness, compassion, and justice. It believes that both Muslims and Christians have far more in common in their moral teachings than in the superficial differences that have been exploited for selfish political ends.
At the heart of the Movement’s message is the conviction that Nigeria’s crisis is not religious but moral and political it is a crisis born of corruption, greed, and a deliberate manipulation of the masses by a morally bankrupt elite. While Muslims and Christians are often incited to hate and suspect each other, the real enemies of the nation are those who plunder its resources and perpetuate injustice but remain united in their corruption. As Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has repeatedly declared, “The poor Christian and the poor Muslim have no conflict; their common enemy is the unjust system that enslaves them both.”
It is against this backdrop that the Islamic Movement views with deep concern and disapproval the recent allegations by former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of allowing or supporting “genocide against Christians,” and threatened to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Trump’s claims, echoed by a few pro-war voices in the U.S. Congress, suggest that “radical Islamists” are carrying out “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, and that U.S. troops might be deployed to protect them.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria categorically rejects these allegations as false, inflammatory, and dangerous, describing them as a continuation of Western propaganda designed to sow discord and justify foreign interference in African affairs. Such sweeping and unfounded accusations ignore the complex socio-political realities of Nigeria and reduce its multifaceted challenges to a simplistic and divisive religious narrative.
In reality, both Muslims and Christians have been victims of insecurity, banditry, terrorism, and government repression in equal measure. Villages in the predominantly Muslim North have been wiped out by armed groups just as churches and Christian communities have suffered attacks elsewhere. These tragedies are not the result of an Islamic war against Christianity, but the consequence of a failed political order that thrives on corruption, poverty, injustice, and impunity.
The Islamic Movement finds it deeply hypocritical that Western politicians who have supported wars, occupations, and bombings in Muslim countries, killing millions of innocent people now pretend to be defenders of human rights and religious freedom in Africa. The Movement believes that the so-called concern for Christians in Nigeria is not born out of compassion, but out of a geopolitical agenda to divide Nigerians, weaken their unity, and pave the way for foreign manipulation of the nation’s resources and policies.
Supporting this position, the Nigerian government itself, through a statement by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has rejected the U.S. President’s claims, affirming that “Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped peacefully.” The government reaffirmed its commitment to “fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.” The Islamic Movement welcomes this official stance and urges the government to complement words with sincere action by ensuring justice, fairness, and equity across the nation. These are conditions which are indispensable for genuine peace.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria further warns that foreign powers have historically used religion as a weapon to destabilize nations and create excuses for intervention. The labeling of Nigerian Muslims as “radical Islamists” is part of a long-standing Western narrative that equates Islam with violence and demonizes Muslim communities globally. This narrative not only misrepresents Islam but also endangers interfaith relations, as it fosters suspicion, fear, and hostility among ordinary citizens who have lived peacefully side by side for centuries.
For decades, the Movement has worked tirelessly to promote interfaith dialogue and mutual respect. Its members have visited churches during Christmas and Easter, and Christian leaders have been received at Islamic Movement gatherings in gestures of brotherhood and solidarity. The Movement has condemned every attack on churches, just as it has condemned attacks on mosques and processions. Its guiding principle remains that any attack on innocent lives, regardless of religion, is an attack on humanity and a violation of divine law.
The Movement continues to stress that true peace cannot exist without justice. Nigeria’s leaders must abandon the politics of deceit and division and focus on eradicating corruption, poverty, and insecurity. The people must realize that religious conflict serves only the interests of those who loot public funds and exploit national disunity. When the masses are divided, the corrupt elite remain secure in their power; when the masses unite, tyranny crumbles.
In conclusion, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria calls on both Muslims and Christians to reject the poisonous narratives being promoted by foreign powers and local opportunists. Nigerians must refuse to be pawns in the game of global politics. Instead, they should draw strength from their shared faith in God, their common suffering under bad governance, and their collective hope for a just and peaceful nation.
The Movement’s message is clear: our unity as Nigerians is stronger than the falsehoods that seek to divide us. The real war is not between Christians and Muslims, rather it is between truth and falsehood, justice and corruption, sincerity and deceit. And until we unite to confront that reality, the cycle of manipulation will continue. The Islamic Movement stands firmly for peace, justice, and unity, rejecting every attempt be it foreign or local to turn Nigerians against one another in the name of religion.
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