NGO Accuses New York Times of "Lies" in Report on Christian Killings in Nigeria

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has strongly rejected a recent New York Times article that cast doubt on its research and data regarding violence against Christians in Nigeria.

In a report published Sunday, the newspaper claimed that Intersociety’s founder, Emeka Umeagbalasi, acknowledged his organization often does not verify its data and relies heavily on secondary sources and online searches to document Christian fatalities and church attacks.

The article described him as an "unlikely source" of information that has been cited by U.S. lawmakers to support claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.

In a detailed rebuttal on Monday, Intersociety accused the New York Times of publishing a "perfidy of lies" and misrepresenting statements made during a three-hour interview. The group denied claims that it does not verify data, explaining that its figures—including documented attacks on approximately 19,100 churches since 2009—are gathered through a combination of field research, credible media reports, and information from affected communities.

Intersociety also clarified that it did not refer to Fulani herders as "animals" and disputed the characterization of its stance on Nigeria's cattle ranching policy.

Umeagbalasi, who is also a business owner, affirmed the credibility of his organization's work and defended its methodology as aligned with international best practices.