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A tense on-air confrontation erupted on Tuesday during an appearance by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, on Piers Morgan Uncensored, as he traded sharp exchanges with Goldie Ghamari, a former Canadian lawmaker, over allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Tuggar joined the programme to rebut claims circulating in Western media, clarify official data, and provide context on Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges. Early in the interview, host Piers Morgan cited figures from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) alleging that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed and 18,000 churches destroyed in Nigeria since 2009.
The minister firmly rejected the statistics, insisting that the Nigerian government does not classify fatalities by religion. “We view all victims as Nigerians first,” he said. When pressed for figures, Tuggar stated that 177 Christians were killed and 102 churches attacked in the past five years, suggesting a significant disparity between government data and claims by advocacy groups.
The conversation grew more confrontational when Ghamari joined the interview. She accused the Nigerian government of enabling what she described as a form of jihad, even drawing parallels with the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Ghamari argued that the shared Islamic faith of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima was “evidence” of an Islamist-leaning administration, and further alleged that Nigeria maintains questionable ties with Iran.
“People need to look into the linkages between the current Nigerian government and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” she said, adding that she believed the minister was “lying and avoiding the truth.”
Tuggar swiftly dismissed her remarks as ill-informed and inflammatory. He accused Ghamari of “treating the lives of Nigerians like a game” from the safety of a distant country and lacking any understanding of Nigeria’s ethnic or security realities.
On the religious identity of Nigeria’s leaders, Tuggar argued that Nigerians prioritise regional balance over faith, noting that Tinubu hails from the South while Shettima is from the North.
When asked whether he condemns attacks on Christians by extremist groups, Tuggar responded affirmatively and disclosed personal loss. “I lost my father-in-law to Boko Haram,” he said. “I’ve lost family members to attacks—and they were Muslims.”
The minister went on to accuse Ghamari of exploiting African conflicts for attention.
“She is out there trying to start a war,” he said. “They want to break up Nigeria the same way they broke up Sudan… For you, it’s just another black country to be broken up.”
Tuggar described Nigeria as Africa’s “largest shock absorber,” citing its role in hosting migrants and upholding religious freedom, and warned that foreign commentators often escalate tensions without understanding local realities.
Visibly frustrated, he added: “Move on to your next project. You’re a disgrace to the Canadian nation.”
Morgan ended the interview shortly afterwards, bringing an explosive and highly emotional exchange to an abrupt close.
