The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has declared that the ongoing attacks and mass killings targeting Christian communities in Northern Nigeria amount to genocide, warning that it would be a “desecration” to the memory of thousands of victims to call it anything less.
Speaking to journalists in Ibadan, Bishop Oke said the scale and persistence of violence against Christians in several parts of the North “can no longer be debated,” urging both state and federal authorities to respond with sincerity and urgency before the situation spirals further.
According to him, “Where is Leah Sharibu? What happened to the Chibok girls? Chibok is a predominantly Christian community in Borno State. What is happening in Benue State is still ongoing. Since Donald Trump raised alarm over genocide in Nigeria, many more Christians have been killed in Plateau State.”
He said the concerns once raised by the U.S. President Donald Trump mirrors the grim reality Nigerians face daily, as Christian communities continue to endure attacks, kidnappings, and mass killings without justice.
Bishop Oke clarified that his remarks were not directed against the Muslim community, with whom Christians have lived peacefully for generations, but against violent extremist groups using religion as cover. “It is the violent sect of Islam-Boko Haram, ISWAP, and others, who use the name of Islam to attack churches. Hundreds of churches have been burnt down. Tens of thousands of Christians have been massacred. Hundreds of pastors have been butchered,” he stated.
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The PFN President lamented that many of the atrocities remain unaddressed, citing recurring attacks in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, and the Owo church massacre as evidence of a sustained pattern of persecution. “It would be a desecration to the blood of these Nigerians to call it any other name,” he said. “There is not a single instance of Christians attacking Muslims. It is always the other way round.”
He also condemned the abduction and forced marriages of young Christian girls in parts of Northern Nigeria, describing it as an ongoing violation that has persisted with little intervention. “When Donald Trump said there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria, there was nothing to complain about. We must call this what it is,” Oke insisted.
The cleric warned that ignoring the truth would only embolden extremists and further tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation. “You don’t call cancer a headache. This is something consuming our country and stretching the patience of the church,” he said.
Reaffirming the PFN’s position, Bishop Oke maintained that Christians are not seeking conflict but demanding justice, protection, and accountability. “There is no controversy about whether there is genocide against the church and Christians in Nigeria. Every honest Nigerian knows the truth,” he declared.
He called on the government to act decisively against terrorist factions and ensure that justice is served for all victims, adding that only through fairness and firm action can Nigeria restore peace and global credibility.
