A new open-source intelligence investigation has revealed that social media networks affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were primarily responsible for amplifying false claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
According to TheCable’s detailed analysis, data gathered from X (formerly Twitter) between January 1 and October 1, 2025, showed over 165,000 mentions of the “Christian genocide” narrative, reaching an estimated 2.83 billion users — a figure more than twelve times Nigeria’s population.
Prominent hashtags fueling the trend included #Christiang+nocide, #LaraLogan, #TruthNigeria, and #BiafraExitNow, the last of which was noted for its strong separatist tone.
Commenting on the report, Confidence MacHarry, Senior Analyst at SBM Intelligence, said the “Christian genocide” narrative “was initiated by IPOB as far back as 2016.” He explained that the group has consistently “used global religious sentiments to frame Nigeria’s security challenges in a way that aligns with its secessionist agenda.”
The investigation found that X accounts linked to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafra handles were among the most active in amplifying the claims, often using coordinated messaging to gain international attention.
The report also underscored the global political dimension of the campaign, revealing that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who has called for sanctions against Nigeria, has received over $1.8 billion in donations from AIPAC, a powerful pro-Israel lobbying organization. Analysts noted that this connection points to a complex web of interests linking separatist propaganda, religious advocacy, and foreign political influence.
The controversy resurfaced after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) denied remarks attributed to presidential aide Daniel Bwala, accusing him of misrepresenting its position following his visit to CAN’s national headquarters in Abuja.
TheCable’s findings have sparked renewed debate over how misinformation and coordinated online campaigns driven by IPOB-linked networks continue to distort Nigeria’s religious and political narratives for separatist objectives.