The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed recent claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing them as exaggerated and misleading portrayals driven by foreign commentators.
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Speaking in an interview with The Guardian on Tuesday, the Director of National Issues and Social Welfare for CAN, Abimbola Ayuba, said while Nigeria continues to experience violent attacks, it is inaccurate to suggest that Christians are the only targets.
Ayuba clarified that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from acts of terrorism and criminal violence, noting that attacks have taken place in churches, mosques, and public spaces without discrimination. “If they open fire in a marketplace, the bullets don’t look for a Christian or spare a Muslim or even spare a baby,” he said.
The controversy emerged after US comedian Bill Maher and US Senator Ted Cruz made public statements alleging systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Maher accused Nigerian authorities of turning a blind eye to what he described as “mass killings,” while Cruz criticized the government for failing to protect Christian communities.
Ayuba, however, accused some foreign actors of exploiting Nigeria’s insecurity to gain global attention. He warned against relying on foreign sympathy and urged Nigerians to unite against insurgency and banditry, which he said affect all citizens regardless of faith.
The Federal Government has also rejected the genocide claims, describing them as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.” Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the violence in Nigeria is rooted in terrorism and criminality, not religion. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding all Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Senator Cruz has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which seeks sanctions against Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in the persecution of Christians. Similarly, Congressman Riley Moore has called on the US Secretary of State to list Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and to halt arms sales to the country until there is proof of improved protection for Christian citizens.
Despite these international pressures, CAN maintains that portraying the crisis as a religious war undermines efforts to foster peace and unity in Nigeria.
 has dismissed claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, saying the violence affects all citizens regardless of faith and warning against foreign exaggerations.){kind=link}