Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says the recent killings in Kwara State were not motivated by religion as both Christians and muslims were killed.

Fani-Kayode stressed this in a post after reports emerged that at least 160 persons in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State were killed.

In an attempt to water down the religious debate and Christian genocide that has plagued the nation over the past months, he stressed that both Christians and Muslims were targeted.

The ambassador-designate, made the remarks in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, where he expressed sympathy with the Kwara State Government and residents of the affected communities.

“The massacre of over 160 innocent Nigerians in Kaiama LGA, Kwara state, is shocking and condemnable. My heart goes out to Governor Rahman Abdul Razaq and the people of Kwara,” he wrote.

“It is clear that those behind these acts of barbarism and genocide are targeting both Christians and Muslims, and this is unacceptable. The killers were not men of any faith but were simply bloodthirsty barbarians from a foreign land,” he stated.

He acknowledged efforts by the state government to address insecurity in the area but lamented the role of internal collaborators in worsening the situation.

“I am fully aware of the efforts that they are making in the state to curb this terrible menace, and it is unfortunate that some internal collaborators are assisting these murderers and are playing politics with the whole situation in an attempt to discredit and rubbish the efforts of both the state and Federal Government,” Fani-Kayode said.

Commending President Bola Tinubu for ordering the immediate deployment of troops, he called for a more permanent security presence in the area.

“I thank @officialABAT for ordering the swift deployment of troops to the area, and I urge the FG to establish a permanent base for the military in that part of the state,” he added.

Fani-Kayode emphasized that the attackers were not motivated by a religious ideology.

Describing the killings as an assault on Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty, he called on Nigerians to collectively resist insecurity.

“This is an attack on our fatherland and our people, and we must all rise up, join our hands together, support both the state and Federal Government and collectively resist it. May the souls of those who were brutally murdered rest in peace,” Fani-Kayode said.