The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has firmly rejected recent claims by American television host Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians in Nigeria are victims of a targeted genocide.
Maher, during a reported broadcast of his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, September 26, claimed that “Islamists” in Nigeria had killed over 100,000 Christians and destroyed more than 18,000 churches suggesting a systematic effort to eliminate the country’s Christian population.
In a statement issued on Monday, MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor described Maher’s remarks as “alarmist, false, and agenda-driven,” warning that such statements misrepresent Nigeria’s security crisis and pose a serious risk to national cohesion.
“The reality is far more complex than Mr. Maher suggests,” Kamor said. “Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by a combination of political, economic, and social factors, not religious conflict. Terrorists and criminal gangs have killed Muslims, Christians, and those with no religious affiliation. In fact, more Muslims than Christians have fallen victim to terrorist attacks.”
MPAC criticized what it described as a growing pattern among international media personalities and commentators who present Nigeria’s multifaceted crisis through a narrow, religious lens. According to the organization, such portrayals risk fueling Islamophobic sentiments and deepening social divisions.
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The group also referenced earlier claims by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, who accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of indirectly supporting terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. MPAC called on the Nigerian government to investigate all terrorism financing allegations with transparency and diligence.
Drawing attention to broader global issues, MPAC compared the narrative around Nigeria to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The organization accused Israel, with U.S. backing, of actions that have led to the destruction of churches and the deaths of both Muslim and Christian Palestinians.
“If those concerned about Christian persecution are truly looking for evidence of genocide, they should turn their attention to Gaza, not Nigeria,” MPAC stated, citing reports from the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
Reaffirlming Nigeria’s identity as a multi-faith nation with a tradition of peaceful coexistence, MPAC urged both Nigerians and international observers to resist divisive rhetoric and focus on solutions that address terrorism in all its forms whether perpetrated by non-state actors or through state-sponsored violence.
“Unity, truth, and responsible reporting are essential to preserving peace in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
