The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has publicly denounced claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria as false, malicious, and destabilizing propaganda meant to provoke religious and political discord. The council issued a detailed statement signed by Deputy National Legal Adviser Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, dated October 10th, 2025, vehemently rejecting assertions, notably amplified by foreign entities and certain Christian leaders, that Christians are targeted for systematic extermination in the country.
NSCIA characterized these genocide allegations as “acts that verge on treason” and “tools of foreign manipulation” designed to destabilize Nigeria. It accused some leaders within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and their international allies of exploiting religious conflicts for personal gain and international recognition, describing their actions as a “big business in self-flagellation.” The Council challenged the exclusivity of the attack narrative, pointing to reports from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which confirm that terrorists and bandits indiscriminately target both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.
The Council further criticized the federal government for what it described as an ineffective response, accusing it of failing to identify and confront the local originators of the false narrative. It warned of dangerous attempts by political desperadoes and religious irredentists to incite religious war, referencing a leaked audio from the 2023 presidential election period where a candidate allegedly framed the election as a “religious war.”
In a scathing critique, NSCIA accused some Christian clerics, including Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese and Rev. Joseph Hayab of Northern CAN, of irresponsibly spreading misleading claims to garner foreign sympathy without facing consequences. While acknowledging a CAN official’s admission that killings in Nigeria do not follow a pattern targeting any specific religious group, the Council expressed disappointment at CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh’s public statements, which it said deepened divisions. It sarcastically noted that the shift in military leadership from Muslim to Christian chiefs led CAN to seek new scapegoats to malign Islam and Muslims.
The Council explicitly stated, “Importuning that terrorist groups, whose religious identities are conflated, are carrying out attacks against Christians alone in Nigeria is plainly mendacious,” demanding a more honest and unified approach to Nigeria’s security challenges.
This response comes amid ongoing international discourse about religious freedom and security in Nigeria, including legislative proposals in the U.S. aimed at sanctioning Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in persecution. Despite these external pressures, NSCIA’s statement calls for national unity and cautions against divisive narratives that could inflame sectarian tensions.
In conclusion, NSCIA’s firm denial of Christian genocide claims highlights the complexity of Nigeria’s security crisis, emphasizing that violence in the country transcends religious lines and cautioning against the politicization of tragedy for personal or foreign agendas. The council urges all Nigerians and international observers to reject falsehoods and work towards peace and stability.
