The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have disagreed sharply over claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, following renewed attention on insecurity and religious violence across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, dismissed the genocide allegation as false, dangerous, and politically motivated. He accused some Western media and politicians of using the narrative to destabilise Nigeria.
Oloyede said the violence being experienced in various parts of the country was driven by poverty, criminality, and climate-induced migration rather than religion.
“There is no Christian terrorism. There is no Muslim terrorism. There is no religious intolerance in Nigeria. What we have are armed criminals exploiting bad governance and poverty,” he said.
He alleged that some Nigerian separatist groups, foreign lobbyists, and U.S. politicians were circulating fabricated statistics and doctored videos to influence Western governments, particularly the United States, against Nigeria. He described the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the U.S. as a political decision, not a reflection of the reality on the ground.
The NSCIA urged both the Nigerian government and the international community to reject what it called a false and destabilising narrative, asking the U.S. to support Nigeria with intelligence and logistics rather than propaganda.
However, PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, insisted that there is indeed a Christian genocide taking place in Nigeria. During a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Oke said the church’s patience was being tested.
“There is no other name to call it. No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the church is being stretched,” he said.
He cited several incidents, including the murder of Deborah Samuel, the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls, as well as attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo, Niger, and Plateau states. He maintained that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, which often invoke Islam during their attacks, were behind most of the killings.
Oke thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for speaking out but advised against military intervention, urging President Bola Tinubu to seek cooperation instead. “Tinubu should work with Trump to root out radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP so Nigerians can live in peace,” he said.
In his remarks, the Olubadan lamented the persistent killings and destruction, noting that both Muslims and Christians have been victims. He called for unity and urged the government to act decisively against terrorism.
“All administrations have tried in their own ways, but terrorists do not differentiate between religions. They see everyone as prey,” he said.
In Osogbo, APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye cautioned against welcoming foreign troops into Nigeria, warning it could worsen the situation. He urged political and religious leaders not to use Trump’s threat to deploy U.S. forces as a political weapon.
“This is not a time to play politics. All Nigerians must unite to defeat terrorism,” he said.
He added that the killings did not start with the Tinubu administration and that both Muslims and Christians had suffered. He called for foreign intelligence sharing and equipment support, not military occupation.
The federal government has begun diplomatic engagements to manage the situation. President Tinubu confirmed last week that discussions were ongoing with U.S. officials to avoid escalation.
