Minister of Information Mohammed Idris Malagi urges Nigerians to unite amid insecurity concerns, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges are not religiously motivated but require collective reflection and national solidarity.
Mohammed Idris Malagi says insecurity not targeting any religion — The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, has called on Nigerians to remain united and avoid being misled by divisive narratives suggesting that the country’s insecurity crisis favors one religion over another.
Malagi, who made the appeal during a national press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking with news men, urged citizens to “look deeper” and resist attempts by political or religious actors to sow distrust among the population. He emphasized that this is a moment for sober reflection, not political manipulation.
“We want to caution Nigerians to look deeper; this is a time to reflect for our nation — to reflect on our unity, to come together,” the minister said. “This is not a time for division, not a time for politics.”
He acknowledged that Nigeria is facing serious security challenges across various regions but maintained that the problem is not driven by religious favoritism or bias. According to him, criminals and insurgents target all Nigerians, irrespective of their faith, tribe, or political affiliation.
“Yes, we have insecurity challenges, but these challenges are not favoring one religion over another,” Malagi said. “What we face are acts of criminality, banditry, and terrorism that have no respect for religion or ethnicity. What the government is doing is to confront these challenges head-on with renewed vigor.”
The minister explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains committed to strengthening national unity through transparent communication, national reorientation, and security sector reform.
He added that ongoing military operations in the North-West, North-East, and other flashpoints are yielding positive results, with troops recording multiple victories against terrorists and bandits in recent months.
“Our gallant security forces are doing their best to protect lives and property. The government continues to provide the necessary support to ensure that every inch of Nigerian territory remains secure,” Malagi said. “We urge citizens to support our forces with accurate information rather than fueling division or spreading unfounded claims.”
He also warned against the spread of misinformation and religious propaganda on social media, which he said poses a major threat to Nigeria’s social cohesion.
“Social media has become a double-edged sword,” the minister noted. “While it connects people, it is also being used by some to amplify hate, suspicion, and fake news. We must be vigilant and responsible with what we share.”
Malagi said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has launched several initiatives aimed at promoting truth, national values, and unity, including campaigns like ‘Re-orient Nigeria’ and ‘My Nigeria, My Pride’.
He further appealed to religious leaders, traditional institutions, and community influencers to join in shaping a message of hope, understanding, and nation-building.
“Our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. We must rise above attempts to divide us along religious or political lines. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and together we can overcome these challenges,” he added.
The minister’s remarks come amid rising tension and public debate following isolated incidents of violence across several parts of the country. Analysts believe the federal government’s latest message is part of a broader effort to calm public sentiment and reinforce unity among Nigeria’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic population.
Security experts and civil society organizations have also praised Malagi’s call for restraint, urging Nigerians to embrace dialogue and reject hate speech.
With renewed efforts by the Tinubu administration to reform policing, intelligence gathering, and community security, observers say the message of unity is both timely and essential to the nation’s progress.
As the minister concluded, he reaffirmed that Nigeria’s destiny depends on collective effort, not division.
“We can only defeat insecurity through unity. Let us not give our enemies the satisfaction of seeing us divided,” Malagi said.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
