- The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria insists Christians are being targeted, but the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs dismisses the claim as false and politically motivated.
Our Reporter | Abuja
A heated exchange has erupted between Nigeria’s leading Christian and Islamic bodies following renewed claims of “Christian genocide.” While the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) insists that Christians are under systematic attack, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) says the narrative is a dangerous political fabrication driven by foreign interests.
This follows renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security crisis.
The NSCIA, on Sunday, dismissed the claim as false, dangerous, and politically motivated, accusing Western media and political figures of orchestrating a narrative aimed at destabilising Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the recurring claim of Christian persecution was being amplified by “foreign lobbyists and separatist groups” to justify external interference.
“We affirm that in Nigeria, there is no Christian terrorism, no Muslim terrorism, and no religious intolerance. The Nigerian tragedy is that of poverty, climate change, bad governance over time, and armed criminals who kill indiscriminately,” Oloyede said.
He further alleged that some U.S. politicians and groups were “pushing fabricated statistics and doctored videos” to influence punitive measures against Nigeria, describing the country’s recent re-designation by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern” as “a political tool, not a reflection of facts on the ground.”
Oloyede urged the Nigerian government and the international community to reject what he called “a false and destabilising narrative,” calling instead for cooperation with Washington on intelligence and logistics to tackle insecurity.
PFN Insists on Christian Genocide
However, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke, maintained that Christians were indeed being systematically targeted.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is no other name to call it. No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the Church is being stretched,” Oke said during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the weekend.
He cited killings and abductions in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo (Ondo State), Niger, and Plateau, as well as incidents such as the murder of Deborah Samuel and the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok schoolgirls, alleging that extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP were behind the atrocities.
While commending former U.S. President Donald Trump for raising global concern over the killings, Oke urged him to avoid military intervention.
“Tinubu should ask for the cooperation of Trump instead of opposing him. The President should root out radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. The government should stand up and not play politics with it,” he said.
Olubadan Calls for Calm and Unity
In a statement by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja lamented the loss of lives and property to terrorism and banditry, urging both Christians and Muslims to exercise restraint.
“Many people have been killed and property worth trillions destroyed. Families have been displaced. Terrorists do not know the difference between Muslims and Christians — they see everybody as prey,” the monarch said.
He called for continued cooperation among Nigerians, noting that interfaith harmony had long been the hallmark of the South-West region.
APC Chieftain Warns Against Foreign Troops
Meanwhile, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, cautioned against accepting foreign military intervention in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Osogbo, Oyintiloye warned political and religious leaders not to exploit Trump’s comments as a means of attacking President Bola Tinubu, urging instead for unity in confronting insecurity.
“At this critical period, Nigerians, irrespective of political or religious affiliations, should come together to support the President. This is not a time to play opposition politics,” he said.
He emphasised that the nation’s security challenges had accumulated over time and were not peculiar to any religion, adding that both Muslims and Christians had been victims of terrorism.
“Getting foreign support in terms of equipment will be good, but not the deployment of soldiers. It may complicate the situation,” he cautioned.
Tinubu Engages Diplomatically
The Tinubu administration, according to government sources, is reportedly engaging in diplomatic consultations with Washington to de-escalate tensions and prevent a potential confrontation following Trump’s remarks.
President Tinubu earlier had in reaction said his government was pursuing a diplomatic approach to address the concerns raised by the United States.