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Nigeria is pushing back on President Trump’s claims of Christian persecution, saying the country’s security challenges affect all citizens.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Nigeria is one of many countries in Africa currently battling many terror organizations, with some of the most notorious being Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These groups have been responsible for some of the deadliest and most brutal attacks targeting civilians, including Christians, particularly in the country’s northern and northeastern regions. In late 2020, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the massacre of over 70 farmers in Borno State, many of whom were Christians, in an attack described by the UN as “the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year.” ISWAP has also escalated its violence in recent years, often targeting Christian communities and aid workers. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in 2020, when ISWAP released a video showing the execution of 11 Christian hostages to“avenge” the deaths of ISIS leaders in the Middle East.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar pushed back against President Trump’s claims that the Nigerian government is allowing the mass killing of Christians. In response to Trump’s social media posts, where he threatened to cut off US aid and send American forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to stop what he called a “mass slaughter” of Christians, Tuggar spoke at a press conference in Berlin alongside German officials. He held up a government document titled Nigeria’s Constitutional Commitment to Religious Freedom and Rule of Law and told reporters, “All the answers are in there. This is what guides us.” He added, “It’s impossible for there to be religious persecution that can be supported in any way, shape or form by the government of Nigeria at any level.”

Nigeria’s foreign ministry added that Trump’s statements were exaggerated, politically motivated, and uninformed. In a statement, the ministry said it remains “committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests.”

President Bola Tinubu also responded to Trump, arguing that his statements do “not reflect our national reality” and stressing that Nigeria is a secular nation with deep religious diversity and legal protections for all faiths. He also noted that both Muslims and Christians serve at the highest levels of government and that his own wife is a Christian pastor.

As of now, neither Trump nor the White House has responded to Nigeria’s pushback.