NSCIA Faults False Genocide Allegations, Urges Government to Identify Real Enemies of Nigeria

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has condemned what it described as a persistent campaign of misinformation portraying Nigeria as a country engaged in a “systematic genocidal campaign against Christians.”

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, 10th October 2025, the Council called on the Federal Government to “call a spade a spade” by identifying and addressing the local actors behind the falsehoods being circulated on international platforms and social media.

According to the statement signed by Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Deputy National Legal Adviser, the Council commended federal agencies and patriotic Nigerians for promptly countering the false allegations but expressed concern that government responses often avoid naming those within Nigeria who originate such narratives.

“It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s negative global image is largely the result of activities by some citizens—agents of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)—who have turned self-denigration into a profitable enterprise,” the NSCIA alleged.

The Council maintained that claims of a government-backed persecution of Christians were “baseless and dangerous,” stressing that terrorism and banditry in Nigeria have affected both Muslims and Christians alike. It cited the U.S. State Department’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, which noted that terrorists and armed groups attack churches and mosques indiscriminately.

“In the first half of 2025 alone, over 2,200 civilians—mostly in the Muslim-majority North—were killed by terrorists and bandits, while millions have been displaced,” the statement said, adding that even the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) acknowledged that both faiths have suffered attacks.

The Council also referenced recent statements by some clerics, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi and Rev. Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Northern CAN, accusing them of spreading “false and divisive claims” about alleged religious persecution.

While expressing disappointment at what it called the government’s “silence” on such provocative statements, the NSCIA noted that even some CAN officials had admitted that foreign interests were exploiting Nigeria’s internal security challenges for ulterior motives.

The Council further criticised what it described as “double standards” in public discourse, noting that when Muslim military officers held key command positions, CAN accused them of bias, but similar complaints have not surfaced under a leadership dominated by Christian officers.

It also raised concerns about certain government actions, such as a recent circular from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) restricting cooperation between conventional insurers and Takaful operators, describing it as “discriminatory and contrary to the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA 2025).”

Reaffirming its commitment to national unity, the Council warned against attempts to sow religious discord or manipulate public perception for political advantage.

“The NSCIA strongly believes in one, indivisible Nigeria and will continue to uphold this ideal despite provocations,” the statement concluded.