The Nigerian Senate on Thursday dismissed allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing the claims by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher as false, divisive, and detrimental to national unity.
The lawmakers made the position known during plenary while debating a motion titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities.”
Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), and Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), the motion sought to counter what senators termed “dangerous misinformation” being spread in foreign media circles.
Seconding the motion, Senator Magatakarda Wamakko described the genocide narrative as “outright misinformation aimed at destroying our nation,” urging the Senate to take firm steps to set the record straight.
Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South) cautioned that such unfounded claims could strain Nigeria’s diplomatic relations and fuel sectarian divisions. He stressed that both Christians and Muslims are victims of terrorism in Nigeria, adding that government efforts to combat insecurity should be recognized internationally.
“It is very common knowledge to us that nobody supports any act of terrorism in Nigeria,” Kawu said. “If such a bill is passed in the U.S., it will endanger both Christians and Muslims here. We must make the U.S. government understand that their position does not reflect the realities on the ground.”
In his contribution, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) urged the Senate to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework through informed, knowledge-driven strategies.
“We must understand the strategies and practices of terrorists and redefine our national counter-terrorism measures,” he stated.
The controversy arose after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, during a podcast with Bill Maher, alleged that Christians in Nigeria were being systematically targeted and killed — claims echoed by Maher and political commentator Van Jones.
The Federal Government has since rejected the assertions, maintaining that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality, not religious persecution.
The Senate’s resolution marks a coordinated effort to collaborate with the executive arm on enhanced counter-terrorism and diplomatic engagements to correct what lawmakers described as a distorted foreign narrative.
Further deliberations on the motion were adjourned to next Tuesday.