Bill Maher Criticizes Media Silence on Christian Killings in Nigeria
American comedian and television host Bill Maher recently drew attention to the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, criticizing both the media and public for their lack of awareness and response. Speaking during the September 26 episode of his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, he addressed what he described as a severe humanitarian crisis that continues to be ignored.
During a panel discussion, Maher expressed frustration at how little coverage the issue has received. He questioned how a tragedy of such scale could remain largely unnoticed. “If you don’t know what’s happening in Nigeria, your media sources are failing you. You are living in a bubble,” Maher said.
Though he is widely known for his skepticism of religion, Maher was blunt in condemning the attacks against Christians. He stated that over 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, and more than 18,000 churches have been destroyed. He specifically pointed to extremist groups such as Boko Haram as being responsible for the widespread violence.
“This is a deliberate attempt to eliminate the Christian population in Nigeria,” Maher said. He compared the situation to other global conflicts, asserting that the violence in Nigeria meets the conditions of a genocide more clearly than other widely reported crises. He also criticized the lack of public protest, particularly among younger generations, asking, “Where are the kids protesting this?”
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U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, who was a guest on the show, thanked Maher for highlighting the issue. She echoed his concern, pointing out that the crisis has been largely ignored by mainstream news outlets.
Data from the 2025 World Watch List, published by the Christian advocacy organization Open Doors, supports Maher’s claims. According to the report, Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. Of the 4,476 Christians killed globally for their faith during the reporting period, 3,100 were killed in Nigeria nearly 70 percent of the worldwide total.
The report states that anti-Christian violence in Nigeria has reached the maximum measurable level under the World Watch List’s system. The threats come from several sources, including Fulani militant groups, who have been attacking Christian farming villages in the country’s North-Central region.
Meanwhile, in the northern part of Nigeria, extremist factions such as Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to carry out deadly attacks. These groups target Christian communities with killings, sexual violence, and mass abductions. The report also notes a sharp rise in ransom kidnappings.
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The violence has recently expanded into southern parts of the country. A newly emerged jihadist group known as Lakurawa has become active in the northwest. This group is armed with advanced weapons and follows a radical Islamist ideology. It is linked to the broader al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgency Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which originated in Mali.
Nigeria is currently ranked seventh on Open Doors’ list of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
Maher’s remarks have sparked renewed discussion about media priorities and the lack of international response to the suffering of Christian communities in Nigeria. Whether this attention will lead to meaningful action or increased coverage remains to be seen, but his comments have brought renewed visibility to a crisis that continues to unfold largely in silence.
Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
Image Credit: Foxnews.com
