Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has strongly refuted claims by American television host Bill Maher that Nigeria is experiencing genocide against Christians.
Maher, in a viral clip from his show Real Time with Bill Maher, alleged that up to 500,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria, calling the situation one of the most overlooked genocides in modern times.
The statement quickly spread online, amplified by international influencers, including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic personality on X.
However, Omokri, in a detailed response issued on Sunday, described Maher’s claim as exaggerated and dangerous.
Citing data from reputable global security trackers, Omokri stressed that the figures did not align with Maher’s narrative.
He noted that according to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s 2024 Global Terrorism Index, a total of 8,352 people were killed by terror attacks and insecurity in Nigeria last year.
Globally, the United Nations recorded 36,000 civilian deaths from armed conflicts within the same period.
“Even when you combine these figures, it is absurd to suggest that half a million Christians were killed in Nigeria alone, or even Maher’s more ‘conservative’ figure of 100,000,” Omokri stated.
He further referenced data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), which reported that between 2010 and 2023, 13,485 people lost their lives in violent attacks in Nigeria.
Omokri disclosed that the majority of these victims were Muslims, contradicting claims of systematic targeting of Christians.
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“Insecurity affects all Nigerians. It is not a religious war. While terrorists initially sought to provoke a conflict between Christians and Muslims, the maturity of Nigerian religious leaders prevented that from happening,” Omokri explained.
The former aide warned against what he described as the spread of propaganda, urging international observers to rely on verified data rather than sensationalist claims.
“The idea of a Christian genocide in Nigeria exists only in the imagination of those spreading these narratives. Such claims are not just false; they are dangerous and risk inflaming religious tensions,” he added.
Omokri’s intervention comes after other Nigerian political figures also dismissed Maher’s remarks. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, similarly rejected the genocide claim, saying it misrepresents the realities of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Both men warned that such allegations undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts and could deepen mistrust among faith communities.
Security experts have long noted that extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have indiscriminately targeted communities, markets, mosques, churches, and schools, with both Christians and Muslims suffering heavy casualties.
Omokri concluded his statement by urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and for international commentators to “speak from facts, not fearmongering.”
As the debate continues, his remarks highlight the delicate balance required in framing Nigeria’s security crisis — one that has claimed thousands of lives but cannot be simplified into a narrative of genocide against one religious group.
Punch
