According to a report by the Punch on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, a significant dispute has emerged between the Presidency and the Christian Association of Nigeria regarding allegations of systematic violence against Christian communities.
The disagreement follows a meeting between CAN leadership and presidential aide Daniel Bwala, with both parties providing conflicting interpretations of their discussion about religious persecution in Nigeria. The controversy centers on whether the ongoing violence against Christian communities constitutes genocide or represents broader security challenges affecting all Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing the longstanding peaceful coexistence between religious groups in northern Nigeria. He asserted, “From time immemorial, Christians and Muslims in the North are brothers,” dismissing genocide allegations as false and potentially destabilizing to the country’s fragile social fabric. The prominent Muslim leader urged those making such claims to provide concrete evidence and warned against narratives that could damage interfaith harmony.
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala maintained the administration’s position that claims of Christian genocide lack evidentiary support, questioning the methodology behind reports documenting religious violence. He argued that available data does not meet the legal threshold for genocide classification and criticized reliance on what he characterized as unverified sources and outdated information. Bwala emphasized that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from attacks by violent groups across Nigeria.
CAN has strongly refuted the Presidency’s characterization of their meeting, clarifying that they never dismissed the reality of Christian persecution. The Christian organization accused government officials of misrepresenting their position and minimizing the severity of targeted attacks on Christian communities across several Nigerian regions. CAN leadership presented what they described as verified data showing consistent attacks on Christian communities and insisted their stance was based on evidence rather than emotion.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, offered a nuanced perspective, acknowledging ongoing security challenges while noting improvements in the Tinubu administration’s approach to religious inclusion. Though critical of the previous administration’s sectarian appointments, Kukah cautioned against designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” warning that such action could undermine reconciliation efforts and embolden extremists. See, More, Here>>>
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