By Samson Adeyanju
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has refuted a statement credited to the Presidency suggesting that its leadership dismissed reports of Christian genocide in the country.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, CAN described the report, titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership” as false and misleading, insisting that it never downplayed the systematic attacks on Christians across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
CAN clarified that the misunderstanding followed a courtesy visit by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Barrister Daniel Bwala, to the CAN Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
During the visit, Bwala had sought to understand CAN’s stance on U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s recent remarks describing the attacks on Christians in Nigeria as a “Christian genocide.”
“The portrayal that CAN’s President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, referred to the killings as a ‘so-called Christian genocide’ is completely false and grossly unfair,” the statement read. “At no point did the Archbishop use such words or express such a view.”
The association maintained that its position remains unchanged, that Christian communities have for years faced organised and brutal attacks resulting in mass deaths, displacement, and destruction of property.
CAN urged the Federal Government to act decisively to end the killings and bring perpetrators to justice, while appealing to media professionals and government officials to communicate truthfully and sensitively to avoid worsening national tensions.
The statement was signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
