The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has castigated Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication for deliberately twisting, distorting and misrepresenting its long-standing position on the killing of Christians across the country.
CAN therefore cautioned government officials and the media to communicate with truth and empathy, stressing that “careless words” can deepen wounds and undermine peace.
The Christian umbrella body in Nigeria pointedly accused Bwala of lying about the outcome of his visit to the CAN headquarters in Abuja, and noted that his post-meeting statement outrightly misrepresented its position on the killing of Christians in the country.
CAN, in a statement by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said it was compelled to correct the “false and grossly unfair” media reports following Bwala’s visit to the its Secretariat on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Archbishop Okoh said that Bwala in his capacity as the Special Adviser to the President visited CAN secretariat to discuss the global reactions to comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who described the persistent killings of Christians in Nigeria as “Christian genocide.”
CAN noted that Bwala completely fabricated and told journalists that the leadership of the Christian body in Nigeria agreed that there was no Christian genocide in Nigeria, stressing that Bwala lied as his statement did not in any material particular reflected the discussion that took place which was recorded by the media departed of CAN.
In the words of Archbishop Okoh; “The report by Bwala falsely suggested that the CAN President dismissed or downplayed the ongoing killings by describing them as a ‘so-called Christian genocide.’ That portrayal is completely false and grossly unfair”.
It emphasised that 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 CAN President noted that the meeting was well captured and recorded by the Association’s media team, stressing that at no point did he or any of the CAN official use such language.
The statement also noted that Bishop Mike Akpami, CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, had presented verified data from www.orfa.africa showing “consistent and targeted attacks on Christians across several regions of Africa, including Nigeria.”
CAN emphasised that the killings of Christians in the North and Middle Belt were not random acts of banditry, but organised, repeated, and brutal attacks that have continued for years without justice.
CAN listed those present at the meeting, stressing that Rev. Dr. Uzoaku Williams and Dr. Celestine Aharanwa, whose names appeared in some of the reports, were not in attendance.
CAN therefore tasked the Federal Government and security agencies to act with the needed urgency, fairness, and transparency to stop the killings and prosecute those responsible.
