By Obinna Uballa
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in the country, insisting that the wave of killings linked to insurgency and banditry affects both Christians and Muslims.
The controversy was sparked by United States comedian Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians were being systematically exterminated in Nigeria, accusing Islamist groups of torching churches and attempting to wipe out the Christian population.
His remarks were echoed by US Senator Ted Cruz, who accused Nigerian officials of “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.” Cruz also sponsored a bill in the US Senate, the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, to sanction officials deemed complicit.
In a related move, West Virginia congressman Riley Moore wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging Washington to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and suspend arms sales until the government demonstrates a stronger commitment to protecting Christians.
But in an interview with The Guardian on Tuesday, CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, Abimbola Ayuba, refuted the claims, saying that while killings are real and alarming, they are not faith-specific.
“All I will say to you is that empirical facts exist all over the space about the spate of killings in Nigeria. The pattern of killings has truly not been in a particular pattern. In some Christian-dominated states like Benue, it will appear as if Christians are being killed. But this same insurgency has claimed several Muslims in their early morning prayers; they attack them in their mosques, slaughter them, kidnap people, and do a lot of things,” Ayuba explained.
He argued that some groups exaggerate the crisis to attract foreign sympathy and interventions, warning that such external pressures could harm Nigeria as a whole.
“Sometimes, our situation is being taken advantage of by groups who know what they benefit from foreign interests. Yes, it’s concerning that this insurgency is lasting too long. But 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 noted.
Ayuba stressed the need for a homegrown, collective solution to Nigeria’s security crisis.
“So, all we must be doing now is adopt an all-of-society action to stop this insurgency. Why run to America when you have a Senate here where you can file your petition? In the end, when they place Nigeria as a country of particular interest, all of us will suffer,” he warned.
