CAN Refutes ‘Christian Genocide’ Claims, Says Violence in Nigeria Affects All Faiths
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed as misleading recent claims by some foreign commentators alleging an ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria, insisting that terrorist attacks in the country are not targeted along religious lines.
The clarification follows remarks by US comedian and HBO host Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians in Nigeria were being systematically exterminated by Islamist extremists. Maher had claimed that since 2009, over 100,000 Christians had been killed and 18,000 churches destroyed by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups, describing the situation as “a genocide attempt.”
Similarly, US Senator Ted Cruz accused Nigerian authorities of ignoring or even enabling the “mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.” Cruz, while lamenting that Christians were being forced to live under sharia and blasphemy laws, said he had introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act in the US Senate to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in such acts.
In a related move, Riley Moore, a US Congressman representing West Virginia’s 2nd District, wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians. He also called for a suspension of arms sales to Nigeria pending what he described as “demonstrable efforts” by the government to protect Christians.
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However, both the Nigerian Presidency and CAN have strongly refuted the genocide narrative. The Presidency maintained in several statements that there is no religious war in Nigeria, emphasizing that terrorism and banditry affect all citizens regardless of faith.
Speaking with The Guardian, the Director of National Issues and Social Welfare at CAN, Abimbola Ayuba, acknowledged that Nigeria is grappling with widespread killings but stressed that the violence is not directed exclusively at Christians.
“All over Nigeria, empirical facts show that these killings have no fixed pattern. In predominantly Christian states like Benue, it may appear that Christians are the main victims. Yet, many Muslims have also been killed during early morning prayers, attacked in mosques, or kidnapped by the same insurgents,” Ayuba explained.
He noted that some foreign groups exploit Nigeria’s security challenges to advance their own interests, adding that while they may have the right to express concern, Nigerians should also be allowed to present accurate accounts of the situation.
“Yes, it’s worrisome that this insurgency has persisted for so long, but the truth is that bullets don’t look for Christians or spare Muslims—or even infants,” Ayuba said. “What we need now is a collective, all-of-society approach to end these senseless killings.”
The CAN official also advised against seeking foreign sympathy or intervention, stressing that Nigerians have local institutions through which grievances can be addressed. “Why run to America when we have our own Senate to petition? In the end, if Nigeria is blacklisted as a country of particular concern, everyone will suffer,” he warned.
By PRNigeria
