‘Nigeria facing Christian genocide’, PFN President breaks silence

National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has reaffirmed that the ongoing killings and attacks on Christian communities across the country amount to genocide, urging both local and international stakeholders to collaborate in tackling the crisis.

Bishop Oke dismissed recent rumours claiming he denied the existence of genocide against Christians in Nigeria during his speech at the recently held PFN at 40 celebrations, describing such reports as ‘false, misleading, and malicious.’

“Let it be clearly stated: There is genocide against the Church and Christian communities in Nigeria. I have never said otherwise. Anyone following events in this country knows this is true,” he stated.

The PFN President cited several tragic incidents to support his position, including the abduction of Leah Sharibu; the kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls from a predominantly Christian community; the Owo Catholic Church massacre; and the ongoing killings in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Niger States.

He stressed that while Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for generations, the attacks are being perpetrated by violent extremist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed militia operating across various regions.

“Hundreds of churches have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of Christians have been killed. Pastors have been targeted and murdered. Entire villages have been wiped out,” he lamented.

Bishop Oke noted that the PFN and its partners have continued to provide humanitarian relief, sending truckloads of food and essential supplies from Lagos to several affected states.

He added that although the current administration did not initiate the crisis, it bears the constitutional responsibility to protect all Nigerians regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Reacting to the United States President Donald Trump’s comments on Nigeria, Bishop Oke urged the international community to support rather than criticize the country.

“President Trump and other friends of Nigeria should not criticize in a way that undermines our nation. Instead, they should assist us. The United States has the technology, intelligence capabilities, and training systems needed to help us defeat these extremist forces,” he said.

The PFN leader also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthen diplomatic and military cooperation with the United States and other friendly nations to combat terrorism effectively.

“This challenge is like cancer. We must call it by its name and confront it decisively. Nigeria needs help, and now is the time for collaborative action,” Bishop Oke concluded.