AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has insisted that 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.
During an interview with journalists at the Covenant Cathedral of Christ Life Church at Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Friday, Bishop Oke said the scale and persistence of attacks on Christians in several parts of the North could “no longer be debated,” stressing that the situation demands urgent and sincere government action.
Worried by the unabated spate of killings of Christians for many years without end in sight, the PFN President asked, “Where is Lea 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.”
Bishop Wale Oke noted that United States President Donald Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ citing what he described as ‘Christian genocide.’ While Nigerian authorities have repeatedly rejected that classification, Oke said 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 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?,” he queried.
Unhappy at the development, President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing what he described as “Christian genocide” in the West African nation and promising to address the issue. However, Nigerian authorities and some stakeholders have continued to reject that classification.
“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 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 clergyman asked.
“No controversy” about targeted killings – Oke
According to Oke, numerous unresolved attacks—ranging from the abduction of Leah Sharibu to the Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping, 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,” he said.
“What about Taraba, what about Southern Kaduna? Until El-Rufai left, it was everyday killing. 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.
“To every honest Nigerian, there is no controversy about whether there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria.”
He emphasized 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.
Calls for Collaboration, Not Confrontation
Oke urged President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with Donald Trump to tackle what he described as a “cancer” threatening national unity and international reputation.
“President Tinubu should seek cooperation with President Trump rather than oppose him,” he said. “The President must move decisively to eliminate radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP so that Nigerians can live in peace,” the PFN President said.
Expressing appreciation to Donald Trump for showing concerns towards the plight of Christians in Nigeria, he however cautioned against invasion, suggesting that collaboration with the Nigerian government would be a better approach.
He added that ignoring or downplaying the crisis would hinder effective intervention: “You don’t call cancer a headache. This is something consuming our country and giving us a bad name globally, and the patience of the church is being stretched.”
Humanitarian efforts highlight scale of crisis
Oke recounted several incidents where entire Christian settlements were wiped out, including the killings in Dogo Nahawa, Plateau State.
“What about the Fulani herdsmen? Before they attack any village they would be shouting Allahu Akbar, and they wiped off many villages. There is a village called Dongo Mahawa in Plateau State. They killed hundreds of them. Our organization, Dorcas Oke Alive Initiative sent truckloads of aides to them. From the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, 49 truckloads of aides were sent to the North to succour the family of our brethren that were killed in Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, in Southern Kaduna and other parts. Without any doubt, there is Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he said.
He disclosed that the PFN and its humanitarian arm, Dorcas Oke Alive Initiative, had delivered truckloads of relief materials to victims in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa States.
“In Lagos State alone, the PFN sent 49 truckloads of aid to succour our brethren affected by the killings,” he said.
Government has a duty to protect Nigerians – PFN
While refraining from blaming the Tinubu administration for the longstanding crisis, Oke stressed that the federal government must acknowledge the scale of the problem and confront it head-on.
“It is the duty of the government to protect the lives and assets of Nigerians,” he said. “Rather than complain about what Donald Trump is saying, the government should ask for his cooperation. Government should accept the fact that this thing is going on and that they have not been able to deal with it.
Oke maintained that recognizing the true nature of the violence is the first step toward ending it and securing a safer future for all Nigerians.
