Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has challenged claims that Christians in Nigeria’s South-East are victims of a religious genocide, calling such assertions false and misleading. During a live media chat on Channels Television, he addressed recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of permitting widespread killings of Christians and threatened military action to “protect” them.

Soludo emphasized that the violence in the region stems from social, political, and economic grievances rather than religious persecution. He pointed out that the conflict involves Christians on both sides, stating, “In this part of the world, eastern Nigeria, it is not religious. People are killing themselves, Christians killing Christians.”

He illustrated his point by noting that the perpetrators and victims share the same faith, with many of the individuals involved bearing Christian names. Soludo called for a deeper understanding of the situation, arguing that it transcends simple religious categorization. He reiterated the need for dialogue and introspection to address the underlying issues.

While acknowledging the right of the U.S. to express its opinions, Soludo stressed that American actions must align with international law.