The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has responded to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Disinformation Unit’s inquiries regarding its reports on alleged religious genocide in Nigeria.
Intersociety explained that its data date back to 2009, the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency that led to the destruction and closure of churches across North-East Nigeria.
According to Intersociety chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the organisation’s figures were drawn from credible sources, including eyewitnesses, media investigations, and international research reports.
He also disclosed that Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), recently appointed as the new INEC Chairman, authored a legal opinion featured in a major report on religious violence titled “Genocide in Nigeria: The Implications for the International Community,” released in October 2025 by the Vatican-based Aid to the Church in Need.
The report cited over 13,000 churches burned or destroyed during the insurgency and referenced works by researchers such as Anna Mulder and Ewelina Ochab, known for their studies on Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Intersociety further challenged the Nigerian government’s statistics, asking the BBC to question the accuracy of data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, which claimed over 614,000 deaths from insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024.
The organisation reaffirmed that its reports rely on both primary and secondary sources, including testimonies from survivors, credible local and international media, research groups, and diplomatic accounts.
