By Obinna Uballa
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has become divided over renewed international claims that Christians are being systematically persecuted and exterminated in Nigeria, as a growing debate around faith, insecurity, and foreign intervention continues to intensify.
The controversy was triggered by recent comments and legislative moves in the United States, where public figures – including Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Riley Moore, and comedian Bill Maher – accused Nigerian authorities of allowing “the systematic slaughter of Christians” by jihadist groups.
Cruz, in particular, introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, seeking sanctions on Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in “the persecution of Christians.” Similarly, Moore urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a move that could suspend arms sales to Nigeria and invite other diplomatic consequences.
Maher, speaking on his television show, claimed that Christians were being “systematically exterminated” in Nigeria, alleging that terror groups were torching churches and targeting Christian communities across the country.
CAN’s Split Response
While CAN’s national leadership acknowledged the gravity of the insecurity facing many Christian communities, it stopped short of endorsing claims of an orchestrated Christian genocide, a stance that has stirred internal disagreement within the body.
In a statement signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the CAN president, the association expressed deep concern over what it described as “persistent and devastating attacks on Christian communities, especially in Northern Nigeria,” urging government and security agencies to act decisively and impartially.
“CAN affirms, without hesitation, that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and destruction of places of worship,” Okoh stated.
“These realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region or religion.”
He said the association had repeatedly petitioned international organisations, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), and collaborated with the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement, to draw global attention to the plight of affected communities.
However, Okoh added a note of caution, stressing that while CAN welcomes empathy from international partners, narratives that deepen sectarian divisions should be avoided.
“The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics. Yet, we must also resist external narratives that misrepresent Nigeria as a country at war with itself along religious lines,” the statement read.
‘Not a Religious War,’ Says CAN Official
In contrast, some senior CAN officials have explicitly rejected the “Christian genocide” framing, arguing that Nigeria’s insecurity cuts across faith lines.
The New Diplomat had reported that Abimbola Ayuba, CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, in an interview with The Guardian, insisted that while the killings are tragic and widespread, they are not targeted solely at Christians.
“All I will say to you is that empirical facts exist about the spate of killings in Nigeria. The pattern of violence has not been in a particular direction,” Ayuba explained.
“In some Christian-dominated states like Benue, it may appear that Christians are being killed. But the same insurgency has claimed many Muslim lives in mosques during prayers. They attack, kidnap, and kill indiscriminately, they don’t spare babies, Muslims, or Christians.”
Ayuba warned that groups exaggerating the crisis to attract foreign sympathy risked harming Nigeria’s international reputation and worsening tensions at home.
“Sometimes, our situation is taken advantage of by groups who know what they gain from foreign intervention. If America sanctions Nigeria or designates it a country of concern, it will affect all of us, Christians and Muslims alike,” he cautioned.
He called for a homegrown approach to solving insecurity, urging unity across ethnic and religious lines.
Government, Church Leaders Push Back at U.S. Narrative
The federal government has also dismissed the U.S. claims as misleading and damaging.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking in Owerri, Imo State, on September 30, said allegations of religious genocide were “unfounded and divisive,” arguing that no religion is under threat in the country.
“Nigeria is built on the faith and resilience of its people. After 65 years of independence, Nigerians have learned to appreciate their cultural and religious diversity,” Tinubu said.
Similarly, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, in a statement on October 8, described the claims as “ignorant, false, and baseless,” insisting that Nigeria remains committed to protecting the rights of all religious groups.
As the debate grows, CAN leaders have urged Christians to respond with unity and wisdom, emphasising that peace and healing will require courage, accountability, and a shared commitment to justice.
“Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame,” Archbishop Okoh said. “It will come from 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.”
