Bwala links ‘christian genocide’ claims to Nigeria’s UN stance on Gaza

Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has alleged that recent claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria are politically motivated reactions to the country’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict at the United Nations.

Speaking in an interview with France24 in Paris, Bwala said the narrative emerged shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered Nigeria’s statement at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where the country condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.

“Exactly 24 hours after Nigeria spoke at the UNGA, comedian Bill Maher launched this campaign about Christian genocide,” Bwala said, describing the allegations as “a cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that we are making economic progress.”

He criticised Western media for relying on reports from Intersociety, a rights group he claimed had published “contradictory” data.

While acknowledging the country’s ongoing security challenges, Bwala insisted that the government is actively addressing them and rejected any suggestion of systematic religious persecution.

“We admit there is insecurity in Nigeria, which we are dealing with,” he said. “But those framing it along religious lines are trying to incite conflict. There is no organised genocide in Nigeria.”

Bwala also noted that some U.S. politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Riley Moore, have amplified the allegations for political reasons, ignoring Nigeria’s efforts to maintain peace and stability.

He reiterated that Nigeria’s position on the Gaza crisis is guided by neutrality and a commitment to human rights.

“From our perspective, this so-called Christian genocide narrative is not based on facts but on political posturing in response to Nigeria’s independent foreign policy,” Bwala concluded.