Christian genocide: Bwala is double-faced, inconsistent– HURIWA        

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected comments made by President Bola Tinubu’s Adviser on Policy Communication, Mr Daniel Bwala, regarding the origin and credibility of reports alleging a genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

The pro-democracy and civil rights group described Bwala’s views as illogical and inconsistent, accusing him of frequently contradicting himself and lacking credibility on the sensitive issue.

According to HURIWA, Bwala’s remarks reflect a pattern of speaking from “both sides of the mouth,” driven by personal political interests rather than objective or principled considerations.

In a media statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the pro-democracy and civil rights group described Bwala’s remarks as “illogical, misleading and inconsistent,” accusing the presidential aide of frequently shifting positions on sensitive national issues.

HURIWA also challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly clarify whether Bwala’s assertion—that the narrative of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria originated from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)—was authorised by the presidency.

The group said such claims were “offensive, dangerous and capable of deepening ethnic and religious tensions,” particularly in Igbo communities at home and in the diaspora.

The rights group recalled that Bwala, who previously worked with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar before joining President Tinubu’s administration, recently insisted that the long-standing claims of mass killings of Christians were fabricated and promoted by IPOB. HURIWA described the allegation as unfounded and politically motivated.

The controversy follows a report earlier this month by The New York Times, which alleged that Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, a trader and leader of the Onitsha-based human rights group Intersociety, played a central role in promoting claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria—claims that reportedly influenced comments and actions by former U.S. President Donald Trump and some American lawmakers.

The group maintained that allegations of systematic attacks on Christians are backed by “documented, verifiable incidents,” including church attacks, killings of worshippers, abductions and murders of clergy, and the destruction of Christian places of worship, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria.

Responding to the renewed debate, Bwala stated on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle that “facts are beginning to emerge,” reiterating his claim that IPOB was behind the narrative. HURIWA dismissed the comment, questioning Bwala’s credibility and accusing him of attempting to divert attention from what it described as “real-life, ongoing security failures.”

The association further criticised the Tinubu administration for what it described as a persistent denial of targeted violence against Christians, alleging that the government had even engaged foreign lobbying firms to downplay the scale of the killings. According to HURIWA, such actions were insensitive to victims and survivors of attacks.

The group cited repeated statements by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which have raised concerns over attacks on Christian communities, denial of land for church construction, destruction of churches during insurgency campaigns, and what the bishops described as the overreach of Sharia courts in some northern states.

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HURIWA recalled the killing of Deborah Samuel Yakubu in Sokoto in 2022 and said justice in such cases remains elusive, fuelling a culture of impunity.

It also referenced reports by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which documented widespread kidnappings of Catholic priests across Nigeria.

According to figures cited by HURIWA from these reports, at least 212 Catholic priests were kidnapped between 2015 and 2025. Of these, 183 were released or escaped, 12 were killed, and three later died from trauma sustained during captivity. At least four priests are reportedly still in captivity, while several others have been kidnapped multiple times.

The reports further indicate that kidnappings have occurred in at least 41 Catholic dioceses, with Okigwe Diocese recording the highest number of cases.

The violence, HURIWA noted, has led to the displacement of entire communities, the closure of churches, and severe disruption of pastoral and social life, particularly in heavily affected areas such as Minna, Kaduna and parts of the Middle Belt.