The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, calling them exaggerated reports spread by foreign figures.
US comedian Bill Maher sparked controversy by alleging that extremists kill Christians daily in Nigeria. He claimed that Islamists were trying to wipe out Christian citizens and burn churches.
Similarly, US Senator Ted Cruz accused the Nigerian government of “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.” He accused authorities of unfairly using blasphemy and sharia laws against Christians.
Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act in the US Senate to punish those responsible for such acts.
US Congressman Riley Moore urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.” He also called for a halt to US arms sales until Nigeria showed commitment to protecting Christians.
However, Abimbola Ayuba, CAN’s Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, denied that Christians were the only targets of violence.
In an interview with Guardian Nigeria, he acknowledged that killings were occurring but said they affected people of all faiths.
“All I will say to you is that empirical facts exist all over the space about the spate of killings in Nigeria. The pattern of killings has truly not been in a particular pattern.
“In some Christian-dominated states like Benue, it will appear as if Christians are being killed.
“But this same insurgency has claimed several Muslims in their early morning prayers; they attack them in their mosques, slaughter them, kidnap people, and do a lot of things,” Ayuba said.
He added that some groups exploit the situation for foreign attention.
“Sometimes, our situation is being taken advantage of by groups who know what they benefit from foreign interests.
“Those foreign interests have a right to poke their noses into what’s going on in our system, but we also have a right to report things as they are.
“Yes, it’s concerning that this insurgency is lasting too long. Also, the spate of killings does not take any pattern. If they open fire in a marketplace, the bullets don’t look for a Christian or spare a Muslim or even spare a baby,” Ayuba stated.
Ayuba urged Nigerians to unite and address the insurgency instead of seeking sympathy abroad.
“So, all we must be doing now is adopt an all-of-society action to stop this insurgency and also address issues of groupthink.
“Why run to America when you have a Senate here where you can file your petition? In the end, when they place Nigeria as a country of particular interest, all of us will suffer.
“But those who run abroad to look for sympathy know why they do that,” Ayuba concluded.
