Muslims were first victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria, says AU chair

Mahmoud Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, says there are no targeted Christian killings in northern Nigeria.

Speaking with reporters at the United Nations in New York, Youssouf said the complexity of the security situation in northern Nigeria cannot be described as Christian genocide.

Youssouf said the first victims of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria were Muslims and not Christians.

“The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians. And I’m saying it with documented references,” he said.

“The complexity of northern part of Nigeria should not be taken that easily. So what we are saying to those statements (Christian genocide claims) is that the African continent is very complex.

“It is not that easy to describe these situations with such very easy words that can be used in not reasonable way.

“That is why the AU commission is very clear about that. We have made it clear in our statement and communique and we would like to stress again that there is no genocide in northern Nigeria.”

BACKGROUND

Recently, claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria have been peddled on conventional and social media, especially by some high-profile political personalities in the United States.

Following the claims, some US lawmakers asked Marco Rubio, secretary of state, to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.

Subsequently, US President Donald Trump labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern (CPC)” over claims of Christian persecution in the West African country.

The US leader also warned the Nigerian government to “better move fast” or he would make good his threat to stop all US aid and assistance to the country.

He also threatened to unleash the department of war on Nigeria to fight the terrorists “that attack our cherished Christians”.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the claims of Christian persecution.

However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has insisted that Christian communities have repeatedly suffered brutal attacks.