A bombshell investigation by the BBC Global Disinformation Unit has exposed how the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and allied Igbo advocacy groups amplified unverified and exaggerated claims of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria a narrative that influenced U.S. conservative media and even President Donald Trump’s perception of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”
The report, “Are Christians Being Persecuted in Nigeria as Trump Claims? authored by Olaronke Alo, Chiamaka Enendu, and Ijeoma Ndukwe dissects the dubious data behind shocking statistics, including claims that over 125,000 Christians were killed and 19,000 churches destroyed since 2009.
When questioned, Intersociety reportedly failed to present any verifiable or itemized evidence to support its claims, instead accusing the BBC of bias. The investigation highlighted how the group’s opaque methods and ethnic-centric framing have distorted international understanding of Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
While groups like Intersociety continue to depict Nigeria’s violence as a targeted jihad against Christians, independent monitors such as ACLED confirm that the country’s insecurity affects both Christians and Muslims alike, without evidence of a state-backed or systematic anti-Christian campaign.
Founded in 2008 by Emeka Umeagbalasi in Onitsha, Intersociety originally focused on governance and electoral reforms but has increasingly turned to identity-based activism often aligning with Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB causes.
The BBC Africa warns that politicized, unverified data not only fuels international misinformation but also deepens domestic divisions, urging for a more balanced and fact-driven approach to reporting Nigeria’s conflicts.
Credit : Prince Ademola Abiodun.