CAN Faults Presidency, Affirms Christian Genocide In Nigeria

ABUJA – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted a statement attributed to the presidency which, it said, mis­represented its position on the killings of Christians across the country, reaffirming that what is happening amounts to Christian genocide that has persisted for years without jus­tice.

In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Tuesday, CAN said it was compelled to issue the clar­ification following misleading media reports after the visit of Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communi­cation, to the CAN secretariat at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Monday. ­

 According to CAN, the purpose of Bwala’s visit was to seek understand­ing of the association’s position in light of glob­al reactions to remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who had described the persistent attacks on Christians in Nigeria as a “Christian genocide.”

“During the meeting, Barrister Bwala acknowl­edged that both Chris­tians and Muslims have suffered from insecurity, noting that the current administration inher­ited the problem and is working to address it,” the statement said.

However, CAN ex­pressed alarm at a sub­sequent press release reportedly issued by Bwala, titled ‘Presidency Debunks Western Chris­tian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership.’

“That portrayal is com­pletely false and grossly unfair,” Archbishop Okoh stated. “The meeting was recorded by CAN’s me­dia team, and at no point did I or any member of the leadership use such words or describe the killings as a ‘so-called Christian genocide.’ Re­ferring to the tragedy in such terms trivialises the pain of countless Chris­tians who have lost loved ones, homes, and places of worship in targeted attacks.”

The Christian body em­phasised that its position on the issue “has long been established and re­mains unchanged.

“Across many parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised, and brutal attacks which have left thousands dead, villages destroyed, and families displaced,” the state­ment added. “These are not isolated crimes but a continuing pattern of vi­olence that has persisted for years without justice or closure.”

CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, Bishop Mike Akpami, was said to have presented verified data from www.orfa.af­rica showing consistent and targeted assaults on Christians across several regions of Africa, includ­ing Nigeria.

The association listed attendees at the meeting to clarify accuracy, noting that Rev. Dr. Uzoaku Wil­liams and Dr. Celestine Aharanwa, whose names appeared in some reports, were not present.

Those in attendance in­cluded Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN; Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Pan­ya Baba, Vice President; Apostle (Prof.) Samson Fatokun, General Secre­tary; Dean Rev. Emman­uel Nicodemus Ozumba, Director of Education, Women & Youth; Dame Comfort Otera Chigbue (Esq), Director of Legal & Public Affairs; Bishop Mike Akpami, Director of Planning, Research & Strategy; Prophet Com­modore Abimbola Ayu­ba, Director of National Issues & Social Welfare; Rev. Dr. Simon Dolly, Secretary, North Cen­tral Zone; and Dr. Victor Ivoke, Senior Special As­sistant to the CAN Pres­ident.

The Christian body called on the Federal Government and secu­rity agencies to act with “urgency, fairness, and transparency” to halt the killings and bring all per­petrators to justice.

“We urge media profes­sionals and government officials to speak with truth, empathy, and re­sponsibility,” CAN stat­ed. “Careless words can deepen wounds and un­dermine peace.”