A major religious divide has emerged in Nigeria as two prominent religious bodies present conflicting narratives about the country's escalating security situation. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have expressed fundamentally different views on whether the violence constitutes religious persecution or general insecurity.
Christian Leaders Speak Out on Persecution
Bishop Francis Oke, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, has strongly maintained that Christians are experiencing systematic genocide in parts of Northern Nigeria. Speaking to journalists in Ibadan, Bishop Oke emphasized that the persistent attacks on Christian communities can no longer be ignored or debated.
The religious leader pointed to several unresolved cases as evidence of this pattern, specifically mentioning the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls. He noted that Chibok is a predominantly Christian community in Borno State, highlighting what he sees as a targeted campaign against Christians.
Bishop Oke clarified that his organization is not accusing the general Muslim community, with whom Christians have coexisted peacefully for generations. Instead, he identified Boko Haram and ISWAP as the violent sects using Islam's name to attack churches and Christian communities.
According to the Bishop's account, hundreds of churches have been destroyed, tens of thousands of Christians killed, and numerous pastors murdered in these attacks. He described any denial of this situation as a desecration to the memory of those who have lost their lives.
Islamic Council Rejects Genocide Claims
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has firmly rejected allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria. Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Council's Secretary-General, addressed journalists in Abuja to present the Islamic perspective on the security challenges.
The NSCIA, which represents all Islamic organizations in Nigeria, condemned what it described as attempts by foreign powers to portray Nigeria's complex security situation as a religious conflict. Professor Oloyede stated that the crisis is purely a national security challenge rather than a religious war.
The Islamic leader explained that Muslims are also being killed in the violence, but the Council has chosen not to emphasize these deaths because they do not view the situation through a religious lens. He characterized the crisis as one of survival driven by environmental collapse, poverty, and criminal opportunism.
Foreign Influence and Political Motivations
Professor Oloyede specifically criticized United States President Donald Trump and Western organizations for what he called dangerous and misleading characterization of Nigeria's security situation. He accused foreign-backed lobbyists and separatist sympathizers of exploiting the country's insecurity for political and financial gain.
The NSCIA Secretary-General alleged that these lobbyists are flooding Washington with doctored videos and fabricated statistics about Christian deaths to secure asylum, funding, and international attention. He described this activity as a betrayal of Nigeria's national interests.
Bishop Oke, however, maintained that international concerns, including those expressed by President Trump, reflect the reality that many Nigerians are witnessing daily. He referenced recent killings in Plateau State and other attacks in Benue, Southern Kaduna, and the Owo church massacre as evidence of a consistent pattern of violence against Christian communities.
The religious leader used a medical analogy to emphasize his point, stating that properly identifying the problem is crucial for finding effective solutions. You don't call cancer a headache, he remarked, insisting that the religious dimension of the violence must be acknowledged to address it properly.
