The Nigerian Senate on Thursday firmly rejected allegations of a “Christian genocide” in the country, describing claims made by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher as inaccurate, inflammatory, and capable of threatening national unity.
The lawmakers made their position known during debate on a motion titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities.” The motion, sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West), and others, sought to counter what they described as dangerous misinformation gaining traction internationally.
In seconding the motion, Senator Magatakarda Wamakko dismissed the genocide narrative as “outright misinformation aimed at destroying our nation,” urging decisive action to correct the record.
“This misinformation cannot continue like this. We must take decisive steps to address this issue,” he said.
Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South) warned that such unfounded allegations could damage Nigeria’s diplomatic relations and inflame sectarian divisions.
“It is very common knowledge to us that nobody is supporting any act of terrorism in Nigeria. The government is doing its best to ensure we live in a conducive atmosphere. Some Christian Association of Nigeria leaders in my state are part of the security council and traditional institutions.
“If they pass that bill in the U.S., it will be dangerous for both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. I am seriously worried that a ranking U.S. senator would adopt such an uninformed position. As a parliament, we must work with our government to inform the U.S. government and Congress that their perception is not in line with reality,” he added.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy, emphasizing the need for deeper understanding and a coordinated national approach.
“We must understand the strategies, tactics, and practices of terrorists. We must engage the government on counter-terrorism measures and redefine our national security framework,” he said.
The controversy followed remarks by Senator Ted Cruz during a podcast with television host Bill Maher, in which he alleged that Christians in Nigeria were being “systematically targeted and killed” — a situation he described as genocide. Maher and political commentator Van Jones echoed these claims, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities.
The Federal Government swiftly rejected the allegations, clarifying that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from terrorism, banditry, and criminality, not religious persecution.
The Senate’s resolution reflects a unified stance to collaborate with the executive arm of government in strengthening counter-terrorism strategies and diplomatic engagements to correct what lawmakers describe as a distorted foreign narrative about Nigeria.
