A prominent Nigerian advocacy group has called for a criminal investigation into a local NGO, accusing it of fabricating a report that claimed over 1,400 Christians were killed in just three months.

The Democratic Front (TDF) described the latest figures from the Onitsha-based Intersociety—which alleged that 1,402 Christians were killed in the first 96 days of the year—as “false, malicious,” and a deliberate attempt to tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation.

In a scathing statement issued on Wednesday, TDF Chairman Danjuma Muhammad argued that the report is part of a “campaign of calumny” designed to trigger a diplomatic rift between the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the United States.

‘Equal Victims’ of Violence

The TDF argued that while inter-religious and inter-tribal violence remains a critical security challenge, the burden of the crisis is shared by all Nigerians regardless of faith.

“Both Muslims and Christians have been equal victims of the circle of mindless violence,” the group stated. They accused Intersociety of presenting a “one-sided” narrative that ignores the wider reality of the insurgency and communal clashes currently affecting the country.

Key Allegations raised by the TDF:

• Lack of Data: The group challenged Intersociety to provide specific details on the “when, where, and how” of the 1,402 alleged killings.
• Security Links: The TDF noted that security agencies have previously linked Intersociety’s leadership to the banned IPOB organisation—a claim the NGO has denied in the past.
• Diplomatic Fallout: The group warned that such “propaganda” had previously influenced US policy and could undermine current counter-terrorism collaborations.

Analysis: The Battle for the Narrative

In Nigeria, casualty figures are often as contested as the conflicts themselves. For years, rights groups like Intersociety have acted as a “third-party” alarm system, frequently clashing with the government over the scale of religious persecution.

However, the TDF’s demand for a formal investigation signals a shift in the government-aligned narrative. By labelling the report “seditious,” the group is calling for a legal crackdown on NGOs that disseminate unverified data. For the international community, the challenge remains distinguishing between legitimate human rights monitoring and the “disinformation” that both sides now accuse each other of peddling.

A Call for Accountability

The TDF has urged the federal government not to treat the allegations with “kid gloves,” suggesting that failing to act could lead to further instability.

“The group should be prosecuted for inciting insurrection if it fails to provide cogent and verifiable explanations,” the TDF added, insisting that President Tinubu is currently “leaving no stone unturned” to eliminate the very insecurity Intersociety claims is worsening.

As the debate intensifies, observers are waiting to see if the Ministry of Justice will move to investigate the NGO’s data-gathering methods or if this remains a war of words between rival advocacy groups.