Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has faulted the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to label Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the claim as baseless and misleading.

In a statement shared on his X handle on Saturday, Sani said the U.S. president’s position was the result of “outright falsehoods” fed to him by “anarchists, lackeys, and apprentices of neocolonialism” intent on sowing division and discord in Nigeria.

Trump had on Friday, via his Truth Social platform, announced Nigeria’s designation, alleging that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in the country.

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“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. was ready to “save Christians” in Nigeria and other affected nations.

Responding, Sani dismissed the claim as “misinformation and propaganda,” insisting that insecurity in Nigeria was not rooted in religion.

“The designation of Nigeria is founded on outright falsehoods and wholesale misinformation. Terrorists and bandits in Nigeria kill and kidnap their victims irrespective of their religious beliefs. The records are self-evident in the last 15 years,” he said.

The former lawmaker argued that Nigeria’s religious diversity made it impossible for one faith to systematically persecute another.

“Looking at the Muslim-Christian ratio in Nigeria, it’s technically impossible for one faith to persecute another. Nigeria is a Lion and Tiger situation, not a Lion and Zebra configuration,” Sani added.

He accused those influencing Trump’s position of seeking personal gain through the exploitation of Nigeria’s complex social fabric.

“Trump was misinformed by anarchists, lackeys, and apprentices of neocolonialism who aim to benefit from the seeds of division and discontent,” Sani said, warning that “this particular weapon raised against this country shall never prosper.”

The senator called on the international community to offer genuine assistance to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism rather than amplify false narratives.

“Nigeria, like all nations battling terrorism, needs support and assistance to tackle its security challenges,” he stated.