Bill Maher Exposes Nigeria’s Christian Genocide In 47 Seconds

Political satirist and self-described liberal, Bill Maher, long an outspoken critic of Christianity, recently caused a firestorm when he put a searing spotlight on the mass murders of Christians in Nigeria, where more Christians are killed than anywhere else in the world.

During the September 26 episode of his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the comedian pointed out the atrocities perpetrated against Nigerian Christians, saying, “They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009. They’ve burned 18,000 churches,” referring to the violence of Islamists in Nigeria, such as Boko Haram. In his comments, he criticized both the media and pro-Hamas protestors, stating, “This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. Where are kids protesting this?” Surprisingly, and thankfully, his audience erupted into vigorous applause.

His remarks quickly went viral on social media, triggering podcasts and talk shows to highlight the mass murders.

Bill Maher delivers a surprising moment on air as he calls out the slaughter of CHRISTIANS in Nigeria that the media refuses to cover.

“If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources SUCK,” Maher said.

“You are in a BUBBLE. I’m not a Christian, but they are… pic.twitter.com/XzDD3LYBPB

— Vigilant Fox ???? (@VigilantFox) September 27, 2025

Credit: @VigilantFox/X.com

I now spend most of my life living in Northern Nigeria, where this genocide is happening. I know firsthand the reality of the gruesome violence against Christians. I have even carried the bodies of my friends who have been murdered. So, I was thrilled to see Maher take valuable airtime to highlight the horrific reality of Nigeria’s Christian genocide.

One of Maher’s more poignant comments came when he stated, “The fact that this issue has not gotten on people’s radar. It’s pretty amazing. If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck. You are in a bubble.” It causes one to ask the very question implied by Maher. Why don’t more people know about what’s going on in Nigeria?

The United States Government, media, and even the American Church seem to be silent on the issue. Indeed, over 100,000 Christians have been slaughtered since 2009. By July of this year, 7,000 more Christians were murdered in cold blood. Currently, thirty Christians are killed every day in Nigeria, thousands of churches are destroyed, hundreds of pastors are abducted, and millions of people are left starving. The silence is deafening.

An abundance of attention has been given to Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran. So, why is virtually no attention being given to the thousands of Christians who are being murdered every year in Nigeria and the atrocities of Boko Haram and ISWA?

One possible answer is that it may be much easier to bury one’s head in the sand than to deal with the problem. That has been the approach of recent administrations in the United States. In 2021, the Biden Administration inexplicably removed Nigeria from the State Department’s “Country of Particular Concern” list. When the State Department offered its report on religious freedom, the following year, Nigeria was not even mentioned. Outrageously, at the same time, Christians were being killed by the thousands, and the genocide was in full swing. President Biden even ignored a resolution from the House Foreign Affairs Committee calling for immediate intervention in Nigeria. With that, a precedent was set, and the United States government refused even to acknowledge that the problem existed. It has yet to be seen if the Trump administration will recognize this genocide or continue to ignore it. 

Credit: Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images.

In the media, there is a dark pattern concerning genocides. During World War II, many German citizens knew what was happening in the death camps. Although some reports of the mass killing of Jews were being circulated in the American media, it was not given nearly the attention it deserved. But rather than blow the whistle and investigate the claims, the American media remained largely silent. The same thing happened with the killing fields of Cambodia and the Rwandan genocide. During both events, the United States and the world stayed quiet and did nothing of consequence.

A genocide is the deliberate and planned attempt to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. According to the UN, what we learn from history is that genocides can last for decades without shocking the conscience of the world. While the killing is happening, very few speak out. Ironically, when the genocides are over, we make movies about them. It’s far easier to deal with the aftermath than it is to face the actual atrocities.

The most shameful has been the silence of the American church. We are the wealthiest and most influential nation in the world. It has the resources, reach, and influence to raise awareness and compel the faith community to get involved. The American church has the means to sway people, lawmakers, and the media, and urge them to take action. Unfortunately, it has followed suit and remained oddly quiet. The Bible teaches us that it is our job to bring light to the hidden things of darkness (Eph. 5:11-14). If we refuse, how can we possibly expect anyone else to act?

I am grateful that Bill Maher was courageous enough to speak out on the Nigerian genocide, prompting a worldwide conversation. It shows us what one liberal, atheist comedian, who makes a 47-second comment, can do. Imagine the impact if all of us did the same.

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Brad Brandon is the founder and CEO of Across Nigeria. Since 2018, he has been actively serving in predominantly high-risk, highly persecuted areas like Northern Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.