By Olayinka Ajayi
The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has said it would be a ‘desecration’ to the memory of thousands of victims to describe the killings targeting Christian communities in some states in the North as anything other than genocide.
Fielding questions from newsmen at Ibadan on Friday, Bishop Oke said the scale and persistence of attacks on Christians in several parts of Northern Nigeria could “no longer be debated”.
He stressed that the situation demands urgent and sincere government action.
According to Oke, “Where is Leah Sharibu? What happened to the Chibok girls? Chibok is a predominantly Christian community in Borno State. What is going on in Benue State is still on now? Since Donald Trump cried foul against Nigeria on the matter of genocide, many more people are being killed in Plateau State.”
The Bishop noted that the United States President Donald Trump’s concerns reflect a reality that many Nigerians are witnessing.
“We are not accusing the Muslim community, get me clear. We have been living together for ages in mutual respect and harmony. It is the violent sect of Islam that is called Boko Haram and ISWAP and co. that use the name of Islam to attack churches. Hundreds of churches had been burnt down; tens of thousands of Christians had been massacred. Hundreds of pastors had been butchered.
“It would be a desecration to the blood of these Nigerians to call it any other name. There is not a single instance of a Christian group attacking the Muslims. It is always the other way round. What about the kidnapping of our girls, and they would marry them off without the consent of their parents, which is going on rampantly in the North?
“Now, when Donald Trump said there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria, some people are complaining. There is nothing to complain about. We should properly identify the malaise so we can deal with it effectively. You don’t call cancer a headache. This is something that is consuming our country, and it is giving us a bad name all over the world, and the patience of the church is being stretched.”
The Bishop recounted numerous unresolved attacks—ranging from the killings in Benue and Plateau States, violence in Southern Kaduna, and the Owo church massacre—point to a consistent pattern of violence directed at Christian communities.
“To every honest Nigerian, there is no controversy about whether there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria.
“Hundreds of churches have been burnt, tens of thousands of Christians massacred, and hundreds of pastors butchered.
“What about Taraba? What about Southern Kaduna? Thanks God for the new governor. These are predominantly Christian sections of Nigeria. What about the Owo massacre? Who are the killers? In those cases, there was not a single case of the Christians rising up to kill the Muslims – no.
“There is no controversy about whether there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria.”
He emphasised that the PFN is not accusing the Muslim community, noting that Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for generations. Instead, he blamed radical extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and violent terrorist factions masquerading under religious identity.
Oke urged President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with Donald Trump to tackle what he described as a “cancer” threatening national unity and international reputation.
“The President must move decisively to eliminate radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP so that Nigerians can live in peace.”
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