The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has cautioned Nigerians against giving credence to foreign propaganda portraying the country as unsafe or deeply divided along religious lines.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, Issa-Onilu said such false narratives could push Nigeria toward chaos reminiscent of Iraq and Libya.
He specifically rejected recent claims by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who alleged that the Nigerian government was complicit in the “systematic killing of Christians.”
“Nobody takes Senator Ted Cruz seriously. I see no respect, dignity, or integrity in his statements,” Issa-Onilu said.
“Any Nigerian promoting such narratives should reconsider. They should read about what happened in Libya and Iraq. With the propaganda over weapons of mass destruction, even after it was proven false, the countries remain destabilized. We must be careful.”
Issa-Onilu further urged the Nigerian media to remain vigilant and avoid being used as a tool for destabilisation, noting that information warfare has become one of the most potent means of undermining national sovereignty.
Echoing this sentiment, Grace Ike, Chairperson of the NUJ Federal Capital Territory Council, highlighted the media’s role in fostering national unity and identity.
“The media holds a powerful position in society. It informs, educates, and shapes the values that bind our nation together,” Ike said.
“In an age of instant, far-reaching information, the media’s role in promoting unity, ethical standards, and social cohesion has never been more critical.”
The controversy over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria intensified after Senator Cruz, in a podcast with Bill Maher, claimed Christians were being “systematically targeted and killed” in the country. Political commentator Van Jones also supported the claim, accusing the government of complicity.
The Nigerian government has dismissed these allegations, insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality — not religion.
Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Senate condemned the claims as “false, divisive, and capable of undermining national unity.”
