The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has refuted allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, labeling claims by foreign figures, including U.S. comedian Bill Maher and Senator Ted Cruz, as misleading and unsupported by evidence.
The accusations, which allege systematic persecution of Christians by Islamist extremists, were dismissed by CAN as not reflective of the true nature of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Maher claimed over 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and 18,000 churches burnt, describing it as “a genocide attempt greater than what is going on in Gaza.” Similarly, Cruz accused Nigerian officials of “ignoring and even facilitating” Christian killings and introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act to sanction alleged complicit officials. U.S. Congressman Riley Moore also urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and suspend arms sales over alleged Christian persecution.
CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, Abimbola Ayuba, countered that Nigeria’s violence lacks a religious pattern, affecting both Christians and Muslims. “Empirical facts exist all over showing the spate of killings in Nigeria, but the pattern has not been religious. In some areas like Benue, it may appear as if Christians are being targeted, but the same insurgency has claimed several Muslims some even during early morning prayers,” Ayuba said. He emphasized that “bullets from terrorists do not look for a Christian or spare a Muslim.”
Ayuba described the situation as a national tragedy driven by terrorism and banditry, not religion, and criticized foreign narratives for exploiting Nigeria’s challenges. “Sometimes, our situation is being exploited by groups with foreign interests. They benefit from spreading misinformation abroad,” he said, urging Nigerians to seek solutions through local institutions like the Senate rather than external sympathy.
The Presidency echoed CAN’s stance, attributing insecurity to terrorism and criminality, not faith-based conflict.