NSCIA denies allegations of Christian genocide, accuses CAN of fueling false narratives
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has dismissed recent allegations circulating on international platforms and social media claiming that the Nigerian government is facilitating a genocidal campaign against Christians.
In a statement signed on Friday by its Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, the Council described the claims as false and malicious, noting that several government agencies, well-meaning Nigerians, and the National Assembly had already refuted them. It expressed disappointment, however, that the Federal Government failed to address the local sources of such falsehoods.
The NSCIA accused some individuals linked to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of promoting divisive propaganda for material and political gains. It alleged that these actors have exploited religion to attract international sympathy and destabilise the country, noting that some political figures had even attempted to incite religious conflict during the 2023 presidential election.
Citing the 2023 U.S. State Department Report on International Religious Freedom, the Council stated that terrorist attacks in Nigeria affect both Muslims and Christians indiscriminately. It said that in the first half of 2025 alone, over 2,200 civilians—mostly in northern, predominantly Muslim areas—were killed by terrorists and bandits, while millions remain displaced.
The Council criticised some Christian leaders, including Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi and Rev. Joseph Hayab of Northern CAN, for allegedly spreading falsehoods about targeted attacks on Christians. It faulted the Federal Government for not condemning these claims, even as a CAN official had publicly acknowledged that insecurity in Nigeria affects all citizens regardless of religion.
NSCIA said the latest statements by the CAN President confirmed that the association was behind the ongoing false narratives. It maintained that despite increased Christian representation in government, CAN continues to malign Islam for political advantage.
The Council also decried what it described as anti-Islamic policies by some government agencies, particularly a circular by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) banning co-insurance between conventional insurers and Takaful operators—an action it said violated the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 2025).
Reaffirming its commitment to peace and unity, the NSCIA said it would continue to promote harmony and protect Nigeria’s corporate existence. “Council strongly believes in one and indivisible Nigeria and shall continue to work to preserve this ideal even in the face of the greatest provocation,” the statement concluded.
