ABUJA — The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly rebuked the Presidency for allegedly misrepresenting its stance on the continuous killings of Christians in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, insisting that the situation amounts to a “Christian genocide.”
In a statement issued by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the apex Christian body accused the Presidency of twisting its position following comments made by Barrister Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication.
Bwala, after a visit to the CAN Secretariat in Abuja, had claimed the Christian leadership dismissed the notion of a “so-called Christian genocide,” a statement CAN described as false and misleading.
“Across many parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised and brutal attacks leaving thousands dead, villages destroyed, and families displaced. These are not isolated crimes but a continuing pattern of violence,” Archbishop Okoh declared.
CAN expressed alarm at the Presidency’s follow-up statement titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership”, saying it wrongly portrayed Okoh as downplaying the killings.
“That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair. Referring to the tragedy as a ‘so-called genocide’ trivialises the pain of countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes, and places of worship in targeted attacks,” the statement read.
The association emphasized that its quest for peace does not translate to silence in the face of injustice and urged the federal government and security agencies to urgently halt the killings and prosecute perpetrators.
CAN also cautioned public officials and media practitioners to use truthful and empathetic language, warning that careless words can deepen divisions and worsen the national crisis.
Those present at the meeting included Archbishop Daniel Okoh (President), Rev. Stephen Panya Baba (Vice President), Apostle Samson Fatokun (General Secretary), Rev. Emmanuel Ozumba (Director of Education, Women and Youth), and Dame Comfort Chigbue (Director of Legal and Public Affairs).
Kukah to Global Community: Don’t Designate Nigeria a Country of Concern
Meanwhile, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has appealed to the international community not to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
Speaking at the Vatican City during the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom, Bishop Kukah warned that such a label would harm ongoing interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding efforts.
“We are not dealing with people killing me because I am a Christian. I live and work in Sokoto, right in the womb of Islam, where collaboration between Christians and Muslims remains possible. Our lives should be defined by a better narrative,” he said.
Kukah acknowledged that while Nigeria faces terrorism, insecurity, and ethnic tensions, the situation cannot be simplified as religious persecution alone.
However, he noted that poor governance and security failures have enabled what he described as “genocide” in some communities, lamenting that “Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country, not only because of their religion but also their ethnicity.”
The cleric described former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as “the worst phase in interfaith relations,” accusing it of alienating Christians while emboldening extremists.
In contrast, he praised President Tinubu’s administration for showing inclusiveness in recent appointments that have helped restore confidence among Christians.
“The President and Vice President are Muslims, yet Christians have not felt alienated. The Chief of Defence Staff, DSS Director, and INEC Chairman are Christians. These are confidence-building measures aimed at restoring trust,” Kukah observed.
Citing the Global Terrorism Index Report 2025, he noted a 37% decline in terrorist attacks in 2024 but urged the government to fully enforce constitutional secularism, especially regarding Sharia law in northern states.
“The President should go to court to have the adoption of Sharia law declared unconstitutional. The secular state anticipated by the Constitution must be enforced,” he stated.
Kukah also condemned subtle discrimination against northern Christian minorities, such as denial of land for church construction, lack of access to Christian education, and unequal job opportunities.
He warned that re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Concern” would undermine reform efforts and embolden extremists, urging the U.S. and other Western nations to “support Nigeria’s path to peace rather than isolate it.”
“What Nigeria needs now is vigilance, cooperation, and pressure for reform – not isolation,” Kukah said.
He ended on a hopeful note, commending the Vatican’s renewed commitment to global peace under Pope Leo XIV, and expressing optimism that Nigeria, “a nation of over 200 million believers,” can contribute meaningfully to a world free from religious extremism.
