The Presidency has debunked claims made by foreign media expert Bill Maher and US Senator Ted Cruz that there is an ongoing Christian genocide in Nigeria.

According to presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, the claim is false and unproven, adding that it was designed to sow division among Nigerians.

In a statement on Monday, Dare revealed that what Nigeria is facing is actually banditry and terrorism.

Read his full statement below.

-----------------------------------

These three above are piling on false narratives. Orchestrating wild allegations about unproven ongoing “Genocide” in Nigeria. We disagree. Nigeria must reject this attempt to robe it with a garment that is not hers.

Nigeria’s elected President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was forged in the crucible of religious tolerance and understanding, that of democracy and respect for individual rights and of course modern politics. His words and testimony ring out about Nigeria and religious tolerance. Nigeria stands by what their President Said.
The words of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu holds strong and that’s what we believe.

1.“ Let me also say this clearly, Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side - not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.

2.”We must never allow outsiders to tell us who we are or sow division among us. We are Nigerians, and we will stand together. Nigeria will not accept lectures from those who seek to profit from our divisions. No one loves this country more than Nigerians themselves, and no one will define us except us.

3.”Our duty is to stand guard over our unity, protect every citizen, and continue to prove to the world that our diversity is not our weakness, but our strength and when Nigeria stands united, no falsehood can prosper against her. So help us God,''

4.”Hate is not an option for us Love is what we preach and we should love one another.
“I inherited Islam from my family, and I didn’t change; but my wife is a pastor, and she prays for me. No conflicts ”I have never tried to convince or convert her. I believe in freedom of religion. We all pray to and are answerable to the same Almighty God. Our love and compassion for others are what truly matter. We must learn to live together as one people.”

Recent comments by Bill Maher and Senator Ted Cruz alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria are both misguided and deeply troubling coming from these ones who should know better.
Such narratives, if left unchecked, distort the reality on the ground and risk inflaming tensions in an already fragile region.

Nigeria is a multi-religious nation founded on principles of freedom of worship, mutual respect, and coexistence. Its Constitution guarantees religious liberty for all — Christian, Muslim, or adherent of any other faith — and successive governments have consistently upheld this right.

What Maher and Cruz have labeled as a “Christian genocide” is, in fact, the brutal wave of terrorism and banditry that Nigeria, like many other nations, continues to battle. These acts are carried out by non-state actors — violent extremists and criminal elements — whose objectives have nothing to do with faith or theology but with chaos, profit, and destabilization. They target soft civilian populations, attacking churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, schools, and villages indiscriminately. Their victims are Nigerians of every religion, ethnicity, and creed.

To suggest that these atrocities amount to a campaign of Christian extermination is to misunderstand and oversimplify a complex security challenge. It also plays directly into the hands of the terrorists, who thrive on division and global misperception. By framing Nigeria’s collective struggle against terrorism as a religious war, such narratives undermine the sacrifices of both Christian and Muslim communities who have stood together in defiance of terror.

Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is national, not sectarian. The government has continuously collaborated with faith leaders across divides — from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs — to strengthen peacebuilding, community dialogue, and counter-extremism initiatives. This inclusive approach reflects the reality that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and the shared humanity of its people.

Bill Maher and Senator Cruz et al would do well to engage with the facts before amplifying falsehoods that embolden extremists and malign an entire nation. Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror — not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding. The truth remains simple: Nigeria is not witnessing a Christian genocide; it is confronting terrorism that targets everyone. And whoever alleges must prove.

ASA