Trump’s CPC designation on Nigeria based on flawed data – IMPI

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative, IMPI, has challenged United States President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, claiming the move relied on flawed and misleading data from local and international organisations.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Omoniyi Akinsiju, IMPI identified Intersociety, a local NGO, and Open Doors, a Christian charity, as sources of exaggerated figures misrepresenting Nigeria’s security situation.

The think tank said these groups manipulated terrorism-related data to suggest that Christians in Nigeria were facing an existential threat. “The circulation of falsehoods in the campaign to designate Nigeria a CPC jurisdiction has become a worrisome trend,” the statement read.

IMPI noted that Intersociety reported 5,068 Christian deaths in 2022, while Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List claimed 5,014, figures the think tank said were inconsistent with official and global data.

According to the Global Terrorism Index, GTI, 2022, total deaths from terrorism globally were 6,701, a 9% decrease from the previous year. Terrorism incidents fell nearly 28% worldwide, and deaths in Nigeria dropped to 392, the lowest since 2011. IMPI argued this suggests that Christian fatalities were not as high as reported by the NGOs.

The think tank expressed concern that biased data could mislead policymakers and distort Nigeria’s security narrative.