Nigeria’s foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar and former Canadian MP Goldie Ghamari engaged in a heated on-air confrontation on Piers Morgan’s show over allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and former Canadian lawmaker Goldie Ghamari engaged in a fiery exchange during an episode of Piers Morgan’s show, according to a report from THECABLE.
Tuggar appeared on Tuesday’s programme to challenge claims of large-scale Christian persecution in Nigeria and to address broader security issues facing the country.
Morgan opened the segment by citing figures from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which alleged that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed and 18,000 churches destroyed in Nigeria since 2009.
Tuggar rejected the statistics, insisting they were inaccurate and arguing that the Nigerian government does not document deaths by religious affiliation. He maintained that all victims are regarded as Nigerians rather than members of specific faith groups.
Pressed for alternative numbers, the minister stated that only 177 Christians were killed and 102 churches attacked over the past five years. The discussion escalated sharply when Morgan introduced Ghamari as a second guest.
The former MP linked Nigeria’s insecurity to jihadist movements and even drew parallels with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. She further alleged that President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s shared Islamic faith was evidence of an Islamist-leaning government.
Tuggar dismissed the claims as ignorant, accusing Ghamari of stoking conflict from afar and treating Nigerian lives as political fodder. He emphasised that Boko Haram targets Muslims and Christians alike, noting that he lost his father-in-law to the extremist group.
The minister went on to accuse Ghamari of promoting division in Africa and seeking Nigeria’s destabilisation.
The showdown ended abruptly as Morgan closed the interview following the heated exchange.