Christians facing ‘systematic genocide’ in Nigeria

Christians in Nigeria are facing unrelenting attacks by radicalised Fulani militants, resulting in fears that food insecurity may compound their woes. 

They told reporters at a press conference within the capital Abuja that Christian farmers are being pushed off their agricultural lands by wave after wave of deadly attacks and that they fear being annihilated by a “systematic genocide”. 

The news conference was organised by the UK-based charity, Release International, which supports persecuted Christians world wide. 

They told reporters that unless Christian farmers might be returned to their lands, Nigeria could also be plunged right into a food crisis. 

One of Release’s Nigerian-based partners, Mark Lipdo, explained: “Unless the displaced farmers might be resettled of their ancestral lands there will likely be a food shortage in Nigeria in the times to return.”

The Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC), based in Plateau State, which has been stricken by attacks, called the situation a “persistent genocide” and a “threat to our existence to exterminate us and take over our land”. 

“If the goal is to annihilate us through systematic genocide, then we take our case to the federal government and to God our creator,” it said in a press release.

“As Christians, we’ve faith in God who created us and placed us on the land of Bokkos. He won’t ever leave us nor forsake us.”

A spate of violent attacks on Christians by Fulani militia over Christmas claimed 238 lives.

Lipdo warned that the violence threatens to engulf the entire country.

“These attacks are being seen by local Nigerians as a jihad, just like the jihad of 200 years ago. This is why they’re targeting Christmas and targeting churches,” he said. 

“The Fulani are continuing the legacy of the ancestors. What is occurring is a non secular war.

“It is taking up the entire of Nigeria. Fulani militants are roaming around with heavy firearms. And nothing is being done by the authorities. We are hoping the authorities will come to their senses.” 

Nigerian Christian charity, the Stefanos Foundation, has been keeping track of attacks since 2001. It estimates that some 42,000 Nigerian Christians have lost their lives since – over 4,300 were in 2023 alone. 

Paul Robinson, Release International, is asking Christians to wish.

“Their communities, their houses and their churches are being deliberately targeted. For good reason, our partners and lots of others are using the word genocide,” he said. 

“We are witnessing a land-grab and ethnic-religious cleansing. And repeatedly, the Nigerian military has simply let it occur. For many years, many within the international community have attributed the violence to farmer-herder clashes. This view is naive. What we’re seeing has all of the hallmarks of a jihad.

“While the international community must take motion, we’re also calling on Christians to wish for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who’re being killed of their hundreds.”