Islamic clerics from the south-west region under the aegis of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland have cautioned the United States of America and other international bodies against making sweeping generalisations or taking actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s internal peace and sovereignty. The clerics issued the warning in a communiqué released at the end of an emergency meeting held in Ibadan on Thursday, where they jointly rejected claims of religious persecution or genocide in Nigeria. The meeting, presided over by the President of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, was attended by prominent Islamic leaders across the zone.
Reading the communiqué on behalf of the clerics, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, described as “misleading and divisive” the statement credited to U.S. President Donald Trump, who had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians. The league dismissed the genocide allegation as a distortion of Nigeria’s internal realities, asserting that the nation remains a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society that has, for decades, thrived on mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and shared history among its citizens. The clerics further stressed that while Nigeria may occasionally experience security challenges and communal misunderstandings, such issues are not evidence of systemic oppression or targeted persecution of any religious group, adding that such generalisations could incite division and damage Nigeria’s international image.
The league reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity and inter-religious harmony, citing the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah as a model for co-existence and tolerance among diverse faiths. According to the communique, Muslims in Yorubaland have, for centuries, lived peacefully alongside christians and adherents of other faiths, working together to build a society founded on moderation and justice. The clerics emphasized that Islam, as a religion, abhors violence and promotes justice, compassion and peace. They reiterated that any attempt to misrepresent isolated security incidents as genocide or religious warfare was unfair to the millions of Nigerians who co-exist peacefully despite ethnic and religious diversity.
While warning against foreign interference, the league urged the United States and other international organisations to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and allow the country address its challenges internally through dialogue and co-operation rather than external pressure or biased reports. “Nigeria is a sovereign state and our domestic challenges, like those faced by many nations, should be resolved through homegrown solutions, not foreign impositions,” the clerics stated. They also called on global media and international observers to engage in responsible and balanced reportage that promotes peace rather than fuels division and misunderstanding. The group maintained that Nigeria’s image and unity must not be tainted by misinformation, political bias, or externally driven narratives that fail to reflect the true picture of religious relations within the country.
Concluding their communiqué, the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland reaffirmed that Nigeria is not experiencing any form of genocide, calling on citizens of all faiths to remain steadfast in promoting peace, mutual respect and national unity. They urged Muslims, Christians and traditionalists alike to continue to see Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength and not division, while praying for God’s continued guidance for the nation’s leaders and lasting peace across the country. “We stand united as one people, under one God and within one nation, committed to justice, peace and co-existence as taught by Islam and upheld by our cultural heritage. May almighty allah continue to guide our leaders, protect our nation and bless Nigeria with enduring peace and progress,” the statement concluded.
