• CAN urges FG to end killings, attacks against Christians
The Presidency has denounced the recent comments by a United States Senator, Ted Cruz, who alleged genocide and targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Also rejecting the narrative, the House of Representatives described it as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s complex security landscape and a distortion of facts. The House directed that the United Nations (UN) be made aware of the development.
However, rather than just condemn or reject the narrative, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps to end killings and attacks. against Christian communities across the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the claims as false, misleading, and not reflective of the current reality.
Speaking to U.S.-based Fox News, the minister firmly rejected the allegations. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, yesterday, in Abuja, the minister asserted: “This is not the reflection of what is on the ground. I mean, it is false to say that over 20,000 churches have been burned. It is also false if you say 52,000 (Christians were killed). Where did he get those numbers from? I think this is absolutely absurd. It is not supported by any fact whatsoever. The Nigerian government rejects that.
“No Nigerian official will willingly or deliberately indulge in the act of siding with violent extremists to target any particular religion in this country. This is absolutely false.” He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.
“Nigeria is a very tolerant country. The government of Nigeria is committed to ensuring that there is religious freedom in this country,” he said.
while acknowledging the challenges of violent extremism that affect all Nigerians regardless of faith.
“It’s unfortunate, sadly, that some of these extremists have killed a number of Christians and a number of Muslims almost everywhere this violent extremism has support.”
The Federal Government, he said, is reassuring its citizens and the international community that the security forces remain committed to combating terrorism and banditry in all forms, and will continue to protect every Nigerian without discrimination.
IN a motion entitled ‘Urgent Need for a Coordinated Diplomatic and Domestic Response to the Proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (U.S. Senate Bill S.2747) and to Mischaracterisations of Nigeria’s Security and Religious-Freedom Landscape’, supported unanimously by all members during plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, recalled that on September 9, 2025, a bill entitled ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom
Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747)’ was introduced in the U.S. Senate seeking to require the Secretary of State to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) and related authorities.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has, in recent Annual Reports, recommended Nigeria for CPC designation, citing persistent violations and state failures to protect against abuses by non-state actors.
According to the deputy speaker, the Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and prohibits the establishment of a state religion.
He argued that successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders and civil society continue to undertake measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders, as reflected in the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 country chapter and prior reports.
The lawmakers expressed concern that external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.
While debating the motion, Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, warned that as the U.S. Senate bill is being pursued, Nigeria must act quickly to counter it. He wondered why misinformation about Nigeria’s religious dynamics has persisted abroad.
Adopting the motion after series of amendments, the House condemned all forms of violence and persecution against any person or group on the basis of religion or belief and commiserates with all victims irrespective of faith.
The House also directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to lodge a formal diplomatic demarche to the sponsors of S.2747 and relevant U.S. committees, transmitting empirical data and Nigeria’s official position.
It further directed that the resolution be transmitted to the Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Security Agencies; the United States Congress leadership (Senate Foreign Relations; House Foreign Affairs), the U.S. Department of State, and USCIRF; The African Union and ECOWAS Commissions.
CAN insisted that all Nigerians, regardless of faith, deserve equal protection and justice under the law. In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed concern over ongoing discussions about faith, violence and insecurity, warning that the continued loss of lives should no longer be reduced to statistics.
Okoh acknowledged efforts by the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity, but argued that the response to cases involving religiously targeted violence had often been slow or inadequate and called for urgent, transparent, and equitable action to stop the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.
He noted that many Christian communities, particularly in northern Nigeria, had suffered attacks, loss of life and destruction of places of worship.
The Christian body noted that the incidents highlighted the need for government and security agencies to ensure the protection of all citizens, regardless of region or creed.
