The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed recent reports suggesting that its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, downplayed the ongoing killings of Christians in Nigeria during a meeting with the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Barrister Daniel Bwala.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Archbishop Okoh, CAN said it was concerned by a press release reportedly credited to Bwala and titled “Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative in Dialogue with CAN Leadership.”
The statement allegedly claimed that Archbishop Okoh referred to the ongoing violence as a “so-called Christian genocide.”
CAN described the portrayal as completely false and grossly unfair, clarifying that at no point during the meeting, held on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, did the CAN President use such words or dismiss the gravity of the attacks.
“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. The meeting was recorded by CAN’s media team, and our position remains clear and unchanged,” CAN said.
According to the statement, Barrister Bwala’s visit was aimed at understanding CAN’s position regarding global reactions to remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who had described the widespread attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria as a Christian genocide.
During the meeting, CAN reiterated its long-standing stance that Christian communities across parts of Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt have faced repeated, organised, and brutal attacks that have left thousands dead, villages razed, and families displaced over the years — a pattern of violence that cannot be ignored or dismissed.
Bishop Mike Akpami, CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, was said to have presented verified data from the online platform www.orfa.africa documenting consistent and targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
The meeting was attended by top CAN officials, including Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Rev (Dr) Stephen Panya Baba (Vice President), Apostle (Prof) Samson Fatokun (General Secretary), Dame Comfort Otera Chigbue (Director of Legal and Public Affairs), and other senior officers. CAN clarified that Rev Dr Uzoaku Williams and Dr Celestine Aharanwa, whose names appeared in some reports, were not present.
The association urged the Federal Government and security agencies to act with urgency, fairness, and transparency to stop the killings and ensure justice for victims.
“We call on government officials and media professionals to speak with truth, empathy, and responsibility. Careless words can deepen wounds and undermine peace,” the statement added.
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