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‘Totally Disappointed’ — Intersociety Accuses NYT Of Falsifying Christian Genocide Report.
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has accused the New York Times of distorting facts and wrongly attributing statements to its founder, Emeka Umeagbalasi, in a report on alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The group said it was “shocked and totally disappointed” by what it described as a report riddled with falsehoods, published by the American newspaper on Sunday.
According to Intersociety, the New York Times falsely claimed that Umeagbalasi admitted he often failed to verify his data and that his conclusions were largely drawn from secondary sources such as Christian advocacy groups, Nigerian media reports and online searches.
The newspaper also alleged that Umeagbalasi claimed 125,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria since 2009, that the country had about 100,000 churches, and that nearly 20,000 churches had been destroyed over the past 16 years.
It further accused him of wrongly stating that schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State were mostly Christians, contrary to official accounts indicating they were Muslims.
The report additionally alleged that Umeagbalasi described Fulani people as “animals” and suggested restricting them to a single state — a claim the paper characterised as akin to ethnic cleansing.
The New York Times said its report was based on an interview conducted at Umeagbalasi’s residence in Onitsha.
However, in a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by Umeagbalasi and other Intersociety officials, the organisation firmly rejected the allegations, insisting that several claims attributed to it were never made during the interview, which it said lasted more than three hours.
“New York Times lied when it claimed that our Board Chair admitted that he often does not verify his data,” the statement said.
Intersociety explained that its data-gathering process combines primary and secondary sources, including direct field investigations and third-party verification.
The group clarified that it did not say “close to 20,000 churches” were destroyed, but rather that 19,100 churches were attacked or destroyed between 2009 and 2025.
It added that it only briefly referenced estimates suggesting Nigeria had about 100,000 churches as of 2021, noting that roughly 19,100 of them were affected by attacks linked to Islamist groups.
The organisation also rejected the claim that it relies solely on internet searches, stating that it works with expert volunteers and field research assistants who document incidents nationwide in line with international standards.
Responding to the New York Times’ assertion that most Boko Haram victims were Muslims, Intersociety described the claim as inaccurate.
It said available data, particularly between 2009 and 2017, showed that most Boko Haram victims were Christians, including an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 pastoral Igbo Christians living in northern Nigeria.
On the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, Intersociety said it never stated that most of the victims were Christians, but only raised the possibility that some Christians could be among them, given that the school was a government institution located in an area with an indigenous Christian population.
The group also denied ever referring to Fulani people as animals or advocating their confinement.
It explained that the issue arose during a discussion on cattle ranching reforms, where it suggested that if the Federal Government was serious about ranching policies, Niger State — Nigeria’s largest state by landmass — could be developed into a modern cattle and dairy hub.
Intersociety said this position was misrepresented and taken out of context.
The organisation called on the New York Times to correct what it described as harmful inaccuracies and reaffirmed its commitment to credible human rights documentation and advocacy.
A United States Air Force refuelling plane has crashed in western Iraq amid the ongoing military operations linked to escalating tensions with Iran.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday that a KC-135 Stratotanker was lost during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Officials clarified that the crash occurred in “friendly airspace” and was not caused by enemy or friendly fire.
Two aircraft were involved: one went down in western Iraq, while the other landed safely. Rescue teams were immediately deployed to locate and assist the crew. Authorities have yet to confirm casualties, urging patience as they gather information and notify service members’ families.
The incident comes amid a widening regional conflict following the February 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli offensive on Iran, which targeted military sites, missile systems, and leadership networks. Operation Epic Fury involves thousands of troops, fighter jets, drones, and naval assets to weaken Iran’s military reach and regional influence.
In retaliation, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on Israel, U.S. bases, and allied Gulf nations, escalating the crisis into one of the region’s most serious confrontations in years. Military officials emphasize that refuelling aircraft like the KC-135 are vital for sustaining long-range air missions, allowing fighter jets and bombers to stay airborne for extended operations.
This crash marks the fourth U.S. aircraft loss publicly reported since the conflict began, highlighting the intensity and complexity of ongoing military operations in the Middle East.
Former Super Eagles winger Victor Moses may soon end his unexpected stay in Dubai, UAE after the Nigerian government began evacuating citizens affected by escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The 35-year-old has been unable to leave Dubai due to disrupted air travel across parts of the Middle East, delaying his return to Kazakhstan to join his new club, FC Kaisar.
The Kazakhstan Premier League side confirmed that Moses and fellow Nigerian forward Imoh Ezekiel both missed their season opener against FK Zhenys on March 8 because of the travel chaos.
Kaisar head coach Andrey Ferapontov said the club is still awaiting their arrival. “Moses can’t fly out of Dubai due to the political situation. We’re waiting for him. When they rejoin, we’ll have a full squad,” he said.
Signs of relief are emerging, as the Nigerian Embassy in Iran has evacuated willing citizens through the Armenian border while authorities continue assisting Nigerians stranded in the region, according to Punch.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated that no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the conflict so far. She added that a federal government emergency team remains on standby to conduct broader evacuations once regional airspace reopens.
“Luckily, a flight arrived from the UAE to Lagos two days ago, just before another strike and airspace closure. Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency federal government crisis and evacuation team is on standby,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has resumed limited international departures from Doha, including flights to Nairobi, with additional routes to Cairo, London, and Istanbul expected soon.
Moses joined Kaisar in January on a one-year deal after leaving Luton Town. The former Chelsea FC winger won the Premier League title in the 2016/17 season, earned 38 caps for Nigeria, scored 12 goals, and played a key role in the country’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the federal government to collaborate with other nations to exert diplomatic pressure on the United States over its role in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He made the appeal during an appearance on the Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Thursday.
Falana condemned the actions of US President Donald Trump, accusing him of disregarding international law and United Nations resolutions.
He called on Nigeria to work with other countries to ensure compliance with international law and to encourage global powers such as Russia and China to intervene in the escalating crisis.
“President Trump has no regard and shows contempt for international law. He has withdrawn the United States from around 66 United Nations resolutions. To him, UN resolutions mean nothing,” Falana stated.
The senior advocate emphasized that Nigeria should revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy, reminiscent of the country’s active role during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement, by coordinating with other nations to press for restraint.
“Our duty as a country, as we used to in the past, is to collaborate with other countries. In the days of non-alignment, Nigeria played a key role. We must now move swiftly to join forces with other nations to exert pressure on Mr Trump,” he said.
Falana further highlighted the need to persuade major global powers such as Russia and China to act diplomatically, noting their significant influence over Iran.
“We need to persuade China and Russia to intervene because those are the two countries that Iran will listen to,” he added.
Beyond the international dimension, Falana urged Nigeria to strengthen its internal security structures and reduce dependence on foreign powers for stability.
“Nigeria must wake up. We must learn from Iran that unless you reorganize your country, equip your armed forces and police, no imperialist nation like America can guarantee law and order in your country,” he said.
Falana also criticized Nigeria’s management of its refining capacity, questioning why the country’s state-owned refineries remain largely inactive despite billions of dollars spent on their rehabilitation.
“If we claim to have four refineries, no one is talking about them. The NNPC now relies solely on the Dangote Refinery. Is that how to run a country? After pouring billions down the drain—about $2.9 billion—on the maintenance of our four refineries, this is unacceptable,” he said.
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