“We Never Dismissed Christian Genocide Claims” — CAN Refutes Bwala’s Statement

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied reports suggesting it downplayed or dismissed claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, insisting that targeted attacks on Christian communities across the country amount to an ongoing and organised extermination campaign.

In a statement released on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the association clarified the circumstances surrounding the visit of Barrister Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, to its national secretariat at the Christian Centre in Abuja on October 20. According to CAN, Bwala’s visit aimed to understand its position on comments made by US Senator Ted Cruz, who recently described the killings of Christians in Nigeria as genocide.

During the meeting, Bwala reportedly acknowledged that insecurity in the country affects both Christians and Muslims, while noting that the Tinubu administration is working to resolve the situation inherited from previous governments. However, CAN expressed surprise at a subsequent press release allegedly issued by Bwala, titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership,” which claimed that CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, had dismissed the ongoing killings as a “so-called Christian genocide.”

“The portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair,” CAN stated. “At no point did Archbishop Okoh use such words or express such a view. 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 association reaffirmed that its position has remained consistent over the years — that Christian communities, particularly in Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, have been victims of systematic, coordinated violence leading to mass killings, destruction of villages, and widespread displacement. CAN emphasised that these attacks are not random but part of a recurring pattern that continues largely without justice or accountability.

During the meeting, CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, Bishop Mike Akpami, presented verified data showing sustained and targeted assaults on Christian populations across Africa, noting that Nigeria remains one of the hardest-hit nations.

The statement also listed those present at the meeting, including Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Panya Baba, Apostle (Prof.) Samson Fatokun, Dean Rev. Ozumba Emmanuel Nicodemus, Dame Comfort Otera Chigbue (Esq), Bishop Mike Akpami, Prophet Commodore Abimbola Ayuba, Rev. Dr. Simon Dolly, and Dr. Victor Ivoke. It clarified that Rev. Dr. Uzoaku Williams and Dr. Celestine Aharanwa, whose names appeared in some reports, were not in attendance.

CAN reiterated its commitment to speaking out against the persecution of Christians and urged both local and international stakeholders to recognise the gravity of the ongoing violence and work toward lasting peace and justice in Nigeria.