The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied reports of an ongoing Christian genocide in the country, describing such allegations as misleading and driven by foreign propaganda.
The clarification followed recent comments by U.S. comedian Bill Maher, who claimed that Islamists in Nigeria were “systematically killing Christians” and had caused over 100,000 deaths and the destruction of 18,000 churches since 2009.
Similarly, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz accused Nigerian authorities of “ignoring or enabling” mass killings of Christians and said he had introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act to sanction those responsible.
In the same vein, U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore called on the U.S. Secretary of State to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and suspend arms sales until the government demonstrates a commitment to protecting Christians.
However, the Nigerian Presidency swiftly dismissed the claims, stating there is no religious war in the country.
Responding to the controversy, Abimbola Ayuba, CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, acknowledged that violence was ongoing in parts of the country but insisted it was not targeted solely at Christians.
“The pattern of violence has not followed a religious line,” Ayuba said.
“In some Christian-majority areas, it may appear so, but insurgents have also attacked mosques and killed Muslims during early morning prayers.”
He explained that foreign actors often exploit Nigeria’s security challenges for political gain, creating false narratives that inflame division.
“Our situation is being used by groups that profit from foreign interests,” he added. “When bullets fly in a marketplace, they do not select Christians or Muslims.
What Nigeria needs is collective effort to end both insurgency and misinformation.”
Ayuba further warned Nigerians against appealing to foreign governments for intervention, saying such moves could damage the nation’s image and undermine its sovereignty.
He called for unity and renewed national cooperation to tackle insecurity, adding that religious leaders must avoid spreading narratives that divide Nigerians along faith lines.