CAN counters Aso Rock lies, insists there is Christian genocide in Northern Nigeria, cites a “pattern of violence … for years without justice or closure”

CAN counters Aso Rock lies, decries twisted facts and misrepresentation on the massacre of Christians

By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor

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CAN President Daniel Okoh recounted that [Daniel] Bwala visited CAN Secretariat at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Monday, during which he sought to understand the position of CAN on remarks by United States Senator Ted Cruz that persistent killings of Christians in Nigeria by Islamist jihadists is a “Christian genocide”.

He said: “CAN made it clear [to Bwala during his visit] that its position on this issue has long been established and remains unchanged.

“Across many parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised and brutal attacks which have left thousands dead, villages destroyed and families displaced.

“These are not isolated crimes but a continuing pattern of violence that has persisted for years without justice or closure.

He expressed alarm over Bwala’s subsequent statement, titled ‘Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership’.

Okoh said the report falsely suggested that he downplayed the killings by describing them as a “so-called Christian genocide”.

“That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair. The meeting was recorded by CAN’s media team, and at no point did Archbishop Okoh use such words or express such a view.

“Referring to the tragedy as a ‘so-called genocide’ trivialises the pain of countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes and places of worship in targeted attacks.

Okoh narrated that during the meeting, Mike Akpami (CAN Director of Planning, Research and Strategy), presented verified data from www.orfa.africa showing consistent and targeted attacks on Christians across several regions of Africa, including Nigeria.

“We call on the federal government and security agencies to act with urgency, fairness and transparency to halt these killings and bring all perpetrators to justice.

“We also urge media professionals and government officials to speak with truth, empathy and responsibility, as careless words can deepen wounds and undermine peace.”

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Aso Rock has twisted facts and injected misrepresentation in the massacre of Christians in the North, the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) has alerted, to counter lies coming out of the Villa over the atrocities.

CAN President Daniel Okoh in a statement also insisted that the killings in several parts of the North and North Centra (the Middle Belt) is a “Christian genocide” without mincing words.

Okoh clarified that CAN did not, at any point, dismiss or describe the widespread killings as a “so-called Christian genocide”, as claimed in a statement issued by President Bola Tinubu’s Media and Policy Communication Adviser, Daniel Bwala.

He recounted in his own statement that Bwala visited CAN Secretariat at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Monday, during which he sought to understand the position of CAN on remarks made by United States Senator Ted Cruz that persistent killings of Christians in Nigeria by Islamist jihadists as a “Christian genocide”.

Okoh said: “CAN made it clear [to Bwala during his visit] that its position on this issue has long been established and remains unchanged.

“Across many parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have suffered repeated, organised and brutal attacks which have left thousands dead, villages destroyed and families displaced.

“These are not isolated crimes but a continuing pattern of violence that has persisted for years without justice or closure.”

He expressed alarm over Bwala’s subsequent statement, titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership”.

Okoh said the report falsely suggested that he downplayed the killings by describing them as a “so-called Christian genocide”.

“That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair. The meeting was recorded by CAN’s media team, and at no point did Archbishop Okoh use such words or express such a view.

“Referring to the tragedy as a ‘so-called genocide’ trivialises the pain of countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes and places of worship in targeted attacks.”

Okoh narrated that during the meeting, Mike Akpami (CAN Director of Planning, Research and Strategy), presented verified data from www.orfa.africa showing consistent and targeted attacks on Christians across several regions of Africa, including Nigeria.

“We call on the federal government and security agencies to act with urgency, fairness and transparency to halt these killings and bring all perpetrators to justice.

“We also urge media professionals and government officials to speak with truth, empathy and responsibility, as careless words can deepen wounds and undermine peace,” Okoh said.

CAN reiterated that its commitment to peace does mean silence in the face of injustice, stressing that truth must always guide engagement between the Church, the State, and the public.

Okoh disclosed that CAN officials present at the meeting with Bwala included himself, Okoh (President), Stephen Baba (Vice President),  Samson Fatokun (General Secretary), Emmanuel Ozumba (Director of Education, Women and Youth), and Comfort Chigbue (Director of Legal and Public Affairs).

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