Nigerian lawmaker cautions against labelling Boko Haram as anti-Christian sect

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has cautioned against portraying Boko Haram as a religious terrorist group specifically targeting Christians in North-eastern Nigeria.

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Mr Ndume, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to reports suggesting that the insurgents are primarily after Christians in Borno and other states in the region.

“It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to drive the narrative that Christians are the targets of these attacks by the terror group in Borno, or anywhere in the North-eastern part of Nigeria,” the senator said.

Over the years, several international organisations, particularly Christian advocacy groups, have ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians.

In its 2025 World Watch List, a Christian group called Open Doors listed Nigeria among the top ten countries where Christians face severe persecution.

On Tuesday, an international platform reported that five Christians were killed by terrorists while working on their farms in Nogoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

In a separate incident, three others were also reportedly murdered in their homes in the Mussa community, Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State. These are among many reports showing attacks on Christians in Northern Nigeria.

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Terrorists are blind to faith and tribe

Mr Ndume, however, maintained that insurgents are not driven by religion or ethnicity.

He warned that profiling Boko Haram as a religious sect could undermine counterterrorism efforts and dampen the morale of Nigerian troops.

“The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling, which can distract us. It has the tendency of doing us more harm. It can even inflame negative passion in our soldiers, dampen the morale of men who toil day and night, determined to ensure that they wipe away this dangerous sect.

“Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and women deserved to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction.”

The senator commended the military for its sacrifices and urged the federal government to ensure adequate funding for security agencies to sustain the fight against insurgency.

In 2011, Mr Ndume was charged in court over his alleged link to Boko Haram militants, who had staged several deadly attacks at the time. He was, however, cleared by the court in 2017.

Reign of Terror

For more than a decade, Boko Haram’s reign of terror has left an indelible scar on Northern Nigeria. Entire communities have been shattered, families torn apart, and livelihoods destroyed.

From Borno to Yobe, Adamawa, and other Northern states, villages once full of life now stand deserted, emptied by fear and relentless bloodshed. Markets, schools, and places of worship have become frequent targets, leaving survivors to live with deep physical and emotional wounds.

Thousands have been killed, and millions displaced, forced into overcrowded camps where hunger and uncertainty have become part of daily life. Children have been orphaned, denied education, and in some cases abducted into a cycle of violence. Farmers cannot safely tend their fields, traders fear the roads, and entire economies in the region have been crippled.