Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has pushed back against U.S. talk show host Bill Maher’s claim that Nigeria is witnessing the mass killing of Christians, describing it as false and misleading.
In a viral clip from Real Time with Bill Maher, the American host alleged that as many as 500,000 Christians had been slaughtered in Nigeria, branding the situation a “genocide.” The claim quickly spread online, amplified by influencers including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic figure on X.
Omokri, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed the figure as baseless, citing global terrorism data.
“According to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, 8,352 people died from terror and insecurity last year. Even when you add that to the 36,000 civilians killed in armed conflicts globally, it is absurd to allege that half a million Christians were killed in Nigeria last year — or even Mr Maher’s more conservative 100,000,” he said.
He stressed that violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims, with Muslims actually suffering more casualties in recent years.
“Between 2010 and 2023, 13,485 people died in such attacks, the vast majority being Muslims. Bad enough. But nowhere near 500,000, or even 100,000,” Omokri explained, citing Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED).
He accused extremists of trying — and failing — to ignite a religious war, praising Christian leaders for not falling into the trap.
“The so-called genocide exists only in the imagination of those spreading this propaganda,” he added.
Omokri’s stance was echoed by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Social Media, Dada Olusegun. Both men condemned Maher’s remarks, warning that they distort Nigeria’s security challenges, risk stoking religious division, and undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
