Christian Association of Nigeria genocide claim
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a strong rebuttal to the Presidency of Nigeria over what it described as a deliberate misrepresentation of its position on the killings of Christians in the country. CAN insists that the repeated attacks on Christian communities in parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt amount to a Christian genocide, and not merely isolated incidents of violence.
According to CAN President Daniel Okoh, the association had never referred to the killings as a “so-called genocide”, a phrase used in a statement attributed to Presidential Special Adviser Daniel Bwala. CAN says the Presidency’s press release titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership” falsely suggested that CAN had dismissed the genocide narrative. CAN states the portrayal is “completely false and grossly unfair” and that detailed records show no one from its leadership used the phrase “so-called genocide” during the meeting with the Adviser.
The association reiterated that its position on the matter “has long been established and remains unchanged.” It emphasised that “across many parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised and brutal attacks which have left thousands dead, villages destroyed and families displaced.” CAN urged the Federal Government and security agencies to act urgently, fairly and transparently to halt these killings and bring perpetrators to justice.
CAN also criticised what it termed the misleading narrative of the Presidency, arguing that it downplays the severity of the violence against Christians and undermines the suffering of the victims. The association reminded government officials, media professionals and civil society that careless or distorted words can deepen wounds and undermine peace efforts.
The dispute underscores a broader tension in Nigeria over how to categorise and respond to religious-based violence. While the country grapples with multiple sources of insecurity—including terrorism, banditry, and communal conflict—CAN argues that the pattern of attacks against Christians qualifies as an organised and persistent campaign. The Presidency, on the other hand, emphasises that insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of faith and rejects the framing of the violence as a targeted genocide.
