The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged religious leaders to avoid portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Idris made the call in a keynote address at the grand finale of the 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation shared the address on its official X account on Thursday.
He said religious leaders should use their influence to promote peace, tolerance, responsible citizenship and national unity.
“Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the Federal Government remains committed to protecting every citizen’s right to worship and practise their faith freely.
“No Nigerian should be attacked or discriminated against because of religion. Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths should be able to live and worship in peace,” Idris said.
He warned that presenting insecurity as a religious conflict could undermine national unity.
“At the same time, we should not allow our security challenges to be wrongly presented as a religious war.
“Terrorists and criminal groups have attacked Nigerians of different faiths and backgrounds, and their objective is to create fear and undermine our national unity,” he said.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu had strengthened intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and military operations, while deepening international security partnerships.
He said security forces had continued to put pressure on terrorist and criminal groups across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.
Idris also said about 1,000 terrorist elements, including dozens of their leaders, were eliminated in the first quarter of 2026 in the North-East, according to the Theatre Commander.
He further cited the rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians in Niger and Kwara states in August through a coordinated operation involving the Armed Forces, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force.
Idris, however, said security was not solely the responsibility of security agencies, urging religious leaders to help prevent radicalisation and promote peaceful engagement.
“The task of building a secure and peaceful society extends beyond the military and the police.
“Religious leaders have a vital role to play in strengthening social cohesion, guiding young people away from radicalisation and criminality, and promoting dialogue and peaceful engagement,” he said.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Idris urged religious leaders to distinguish political differences from religious hostility.
“Political competition is part of democracy. Nigerians have the right to support the political party or candidate of their choice.
“Religious leaders also have the right, as citizens, to hold political opinions, but we must draw a clear line between political disagreement and religious hostility,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to assess candidates based on their records and programmes, vote according to their conscience and accept legitimate electoral outcomes.
“No election should be allowed to turn Christian against Muslim, Muslim against Christian, North against South, or one ethnic group against another.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us,” Idris said.
