A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has dismissed as false claims by American talk show host Bill Maher that Christians are being systematically killed in Nigeria.
Maher, in a viral clip from his show Real Time with Bill Maher, alleged that up to 500,000 Christians had been killed in the country, describing the situation as genocide.
The video was circulated by international influencers, including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic personality on X.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Omokri said the claims were unfounded and contradicted global records on terrorism and insecurity.
“According to the Institute’s 2024 Global Terrorism Index, a total of 8,352 people died from terror and insecurity last year.
“Even when you add this to the 36,000 civilians the United Nations says were killed by armed conflicts globally in the same year, you will agree with me that it is preposterous to allege that half a million Christians were killed in Nigeria last year, or Mr Maher’s more conservative figure of 100,000,” he said.
He stressed that insecurity in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims, noting that more Muslims have been victims in recent years.
“According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, ACLED, between 2010 and 2023, 13,485 people have died in these attacks, with the vast majority being Muslims. Bad enough. But nowhere near 500,000, or 100,000,” Omokri explained.
The former presidential aide argued that terrorists had initially sought to ignite a religious war but were frustrated by the maturity of Christian leaders.
“The point of this treatise is simply to dispel the propaganda spread by either ignorant or mischievous persons about a genocide in Nigeria. Such a thing is the figment of the imagination of those making such wild and dangerous claims,” Omokri added.
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