ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed a dramatic surge in violence against Christians across the country, particularly in the North, raising the alarm over a “Christian Genocide” as cries for justice are “too often met with delay or denial.”
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, titled “Christian Genocide — CAN Clarifies Position,” the association’s National President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, condemned the continuous targeting of Christian communities and demanded immediate, transparent action from the government.
“CAN 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,” the statement read. The body stressed that the scale of killings and displacement has reached “alarming proportions,” serving as a “painful reminder of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively.”
Calls for Justice and Global Advocacy
CAN lamented that its extensive advocacy efforts—which include recording religiously motivated killings, engaging international partners, and writing to the International Criminal Court (ICC)—have largely failed to secure accountability.
The association warned that the ongoing “failure to protect vulnerable Christian communities risks further eroding public trust and national unity.” It called for an immediate end to what it described as years of impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of religiously motivated violence, insisting that the “pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.”
While acknowledging some government efforts to curb insecurity, Archbishop Okoh urged authorities to intensify protection measures across all faiths, stating that “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.”
The CAN statement comes amid a renewed international campaign over the alleged “systematic persecution” of Christians in Nigeria. The controversy was fueled by recent remarks from U.S. figures, including Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher, suggesting Christian worshippers were solely targeted.
Adding to the pressure, U.S. Representative Riley M. Moore wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging “immediate action.” In his letter dated October 6, 2025, Moore claimed Nigeria has become the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”
The Congressman pushed the U.S. to “use all diplomatic tools available,” including redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and halting arms sales until the Nigerian government demonstrates a commitment to ending the violence. Moore cited chilling statistics, alleging that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 aloneand that at least 19,100 churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009.
Nigerian Government Denies ‘Christian Genocide’
The Nigerian government has vehemently denied the allegations of targeted attacks against Christians.
On Wednesday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, lashed out at Senator Cruz and Bill Maher. He described their comments as “reckless and misleading” and accused them of spreading falsehoods that “embolden extremists and malign an entire nation.”
Dare insisted that Nigeria deserves “solidarity in its fight against terror — not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding,” and urged the U.S. figures to “engage with the facts” before amplifying unproven claims.
