Christian Genocide: CAN backs US senator, FG disagrees

The federal government has once again rejected “false and baseless” charges made by US Senator Ted Cruz, who accused Nigerian authorities of organizing a genocide against Christians and allowing the destruction of thousands of churches.

However, in a statement issued Wednesday by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the Christian Association of Nigeria “affirms, without hesitation, that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship.”

“Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage: the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities,” CAN stated.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cruz claimed that over 52,000 Christians have been slain in Nigeria since 2009, with over 20,000 churches and Christian institutions demolished.

He also announced the launch of the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act in the US Senate, which seeks sanctions against Nigerian officials who he alleges are complicit in religious persecution.

But in response to the charges on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, slammed the senator’s assertions as “misleading, exaggerated, and not reflective of reality.”

“The Nigerian government rejects that. This is certainly not true,” Idris said in a statement issued through his media aide.

“It’s false to claim that over 52,000 Christians have been killed or that 20,000 churches have been burned. Where did he get those numbers from? It’s absolutely absurd and unsupported by any credible evidence.”

Cruz, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, stated that the alleged killings were “the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times,” and that the US “knows who those individuals are” and will “hold them accountable.”

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However, Idris categorically denied the suggestion that the Nigerian government is engaged in any religiously motivated killings.

“No Nigerian officials will willingly or deliberately side with violent extremists to target any religion. That is absolutely false,” he said.

Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, highlighting the country’s long history of diversity and harmony.

“Nigeria is a multi-faith country. We have Christians, Muslims, and even citizens who subscribe to neither. Nigeria is a very tolerant nation, and the government remains committed to protecting the rights of all,” he stated.

While conceding that violent extremism remains a national security threat, Idris emphasized that such violence has harmed both Christians and Muslims.

“It’s unfortunate that extremists have killed people of both faiths in areas where they operate. But it is wrong and misleading to claim there’s a deliberate plan to exterminate Christians. That is simply not true and very unfortunate,” he said.

He reassured Nigerians and the international community that security agencies will continue to combat terrorism and banditry in all forms without bias or discrimination.

However, CAN’s statement, titled “Christian Genocide—CAN Clarifies Position,” maintained that true killings are facing persecution, saying, “These realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region.”

The CAN president said, “Over the years, CAN and the wider Christian community have worked tirelessly to draw attention, both nationally and internationally, to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

“The association has established mechanisms for recording incidents of religiously motivated killings, engaged with international partners, written to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and hosted global Christian organizations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement. These sustained efforts demonstrate CAN’s consistent advocacy for justice, peace, and the protection of Christian communities under threat.”

The Christian body said its “concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial.”

“We, therefore, renew our call on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.

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“CAN acknowledges the efforts of government and security agencies in responding to the nation’s security challenges but urges that these efforts be redoubled towards equitable protection for all. It is equally imperative that perpetrators of violence are brought swiftly and transparently to justice. We also appeal to all Christian leaders to continue to speak and act with wisdom, unity, and faith, knowing that peace is too fragile to be taken for granted.”

CAN said, “Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage: the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities. Only then can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace.”

However, at its plenary on Wednesday, the House of Representatives joined the Federal Government in condemning a proposed United States Senate bill designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”—a move that could result in sanctions against Nigerian officials under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky Act) and related authorities.

The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747), which was filed in the United States Senate on September 9, proposes to oblige the Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and to sanction officials suspected of participating in religious persecution.

In a motion of urgent national importance, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other co-sponsors noted that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom had recommended Nigeria for CPC designation in recent annual reports, citing alleged violations and failures to protect citizens from non-state actor abuse.

Speaking on the motion, Kalu claimed that Nigeria’s Constitution “guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and bars the adoption of any state religion.”

He also stated that successive governments, security agencies, and church leaders “continue to take measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders,” as seen by US Department of State country reports.

“The House observes that insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multi-causal—driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, separatist violence, and communal disputes—affecting citizens of all faiths,” Kalu said. “International reports attribute a significant share of fatalities to terrorist groups and criminal gangs rather than state policy or any single religious dynamic.”

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The lawmakers warned that “external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualized assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.”

Given Nigeria’s long-standing relationship with the United States in counter-terrorism, human rights, and interfaith dialogue, the House “condemned the negative characterization” of the country and rejected what it called an attempt to “profile Nigeria unfairly.”

Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere described the move as part of a misinformation campaign “bent on demarketing Nigeria,” while Katsina lawmaker Sada Soli urged the Federal Government to “state strongly its disappointment at the deliberate attempt to dent the nation’s image.”

Edo legislator Billy Osawaru also stated that Nigeria must urgently improve its diplomatic presence, adding that “till now, Nigeria does not have an ambassador to the United States” and emphasizing that the country “cannot afford to fail the African continent.”

The House directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Information, National Orientation and Values, Police Affairs, Civil Society, and Human Rights to coordinate a formal diplomatic demarche to the sponsors of the US bill and relevant congressional committees within 21 days, transmitting empirical data and Nigeria’s official position.

It further encouraged the committees to work with the US mission in Nigeria and interested parliamentarians to establish a Nigeria-US joint fact-finding dialogue.

Furthermore, the House urged the creation of a mechanism for religious or belief freedom, with participation from faith leaders and independent experts, as well as the invitation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to a briefing session to examine sources, methodology, and potential remedies.

The resolutions will be sent to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the heads of security agencies, the leadership of the United States Congress (Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees), the Department of State, USCIRF, the African Union, and the ECOWAS Commission.

Christian Genocide: CAN backs US senator, FG disagrees