Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Northern States and the FCT, has warned of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
In an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, monitored by The News Chronicle, Rev. Hayab said denying the killings of Christians is “unfair and misleading.”
He revealed that many churches have been forced to shut down in Maiduguri and other northern states, while Christian candidates face discrimination and denial of admission in schools.
Recalling past remarks, he said:
“In 1996, a Muslim stakeholder in the north stated that a Christian—or a woman—cannot lead him. Fundamentalists, in the name of Islam, target Christians. Until we accept this reality, there is no solution in sight.”
Rev. Hayab also frowned at the misrepresentation of CAN’s stance by narratives suggesting there is no genocide, citing remarks by President Tinubu’s media aide, Daniel Bwala.
He further accused opponents of former U.S. President Donald Trump of being complicit in the rising violence against Christians in the north, urging the government to protect all Nigerians regardless of religion or region.

