The Presidency has strongly denied recent claims of a “Christian genocide” taking place in Nigeria, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
In a post on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said the claim was based on a flawed report allegedly initiated by an unnamed individual in Onitsha, Anambra State. He accused foreign lobby groups and sections of the Western media of weaponising the claim to discredit the Nigerian government.
“The allegation of ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria is an orchestrated agenda fuelled by misinformation and foreign bias,” Bwala stated.
This comes after U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Ted Budd made public statements alleging widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Their comments followed Nigeria’s expression of support for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a stance that has received mixed reactions both locally and internationally.
Bwala linked the timing of the genocide claim to Nigeria’s foreign policy position on the Gaza conflict. “For years, Nigerians cried out about insecurity, and the West said nothing—until we spoke at the UNGA. Now, they are using a flawed report to distort our story,” he said.
He further stated that the report being cited by the U.S. lawmakers and media outlets was the work of a single individual in Onitsha, which was then “amplified by AIPAC-backed interests” and used to stir religious division.
According to Bwala, the narrative being pushed by foreign interests ignores the security improvements made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Nigerians are superlatively safer today under President Tinubu than before 2023, when we had daylight kidnappings and rampant killings,” he said.
The Presidency called on Nigerians to reject what it described as “divisive propaganda” aimed at fuelling religious tension in the country. It reiterated the government’s commitment to the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
This is not the first time the Nigerian government has pushed back against accusations of religious persecution. Over the years, various administrations have argued that Nigeria’s security challenges, especially in the North, affect both Christians and Muslims and should not be framed along religious lines.
