The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused the Presidency of distorting its position on the ongoing violence against Christians in parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, insisting that the situation amounts to a “Christian genocide.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the apex Christian body said it never dismissed or described the killings as a “so-called Christian genocide,” contrary to a claim contained in a press release allegedly issued by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication.
According to CAN, the controversy stemmed from Bwala’s visit to the association’s national secretariat at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Monday. The visit, the group said, was meant to clarify CAN’s position on recent comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who described the killings of Christians in Nigeria as a “Christian genocide.”
“CAN made it clear that its position on this matter has long been established and remains unchanged,” Archbishop Okoh stated. “Across many parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have faced sustained, organized, and brutal attacks that have left thousands dead, villages destroyed, and families displaced. These are not isolated crimes but a continuing pattern of violence that has persisted for years without justice or closure.”
CAN expressed dismay at the Presidency’s statement titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership,” saying it falsely portrayed the association as downplaying the killings.
“That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair,” Okoh said. “The meeting was recorded by CAN’s media team, and at no point did I use such words or express such a view. Referring to the tragedy as a ‘so-called genocide’ trivializes the pain of countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes, and places of worship in targeted attacks.”
The association also revealed that during the meeting, Bishop Mike Akpami, its Director of Planning, Research, and Strategy, presented verified data from www.orfa.africa, showing consistent, targeted assaults on Christian communities across various regions of Africa, including Nigeria.
Calling for urgent action, CAN urged the federal government and security agencies to act decisively, fairly, and transparently to stop the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.
“We also urge government officials and media professionals to communicate with truth, empathy, and responsibility, as careless statements can deepen wounds and undermine peace,” Okoh added.
The Christian body reaffirmed its commitment to peace but maintained that peace must not come at the expense of truth. “Our pursuit of peace does not mean silence in the face of injustice,” Okoh said. “Truth must always guide engagement between the Church, the State, and the public.”
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