By Abasi Ita
The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek strategic collaboration with United States President Donald Trump in tackling what he described as ongoing targeted killings of Christians in parts of the country.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, Bishop Oke said there was “no longer any debate” about the widespread attacks on Christian communities, stressing that the trend constitutes what he termed a form of genocide.
He noted that former U.S. President Trump had once designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious persecution and killings, and maintained that the situation has persisted despite denials by some stakeholders.
According to Oke, several incidents across the North and Middle Belt have led to the deaths, displacement, or abduction of Christians, referencing the cases of Deborah Samuel, Leah Sharibu, the Chibok schoolgirls, and recurrent attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo in Ondo State, Niger, and Plateau.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is no other name to call it,” he said. “No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the Church is being stretched. Hundreds of Christians, including pastors, have been massacred.”
The PFN President clarified that the attacks are carried out by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and affiliated factions, and should not be seen as attacks by the Muslim community as a whole.
He expressed appreciation to Trump for raising the alarm over the plight of Christians in Nigeria, but discouraged any form of external military intervention, advocating instead for cooperation between both governments.
“President Tinubu should ask for the cooperation of President Trump instead of opposing him,” he stated. “The President should root out radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. Work together so Nigerians can live in peace.”
Oke urged the Federal Government to prioritise its constitutional responsibility of protecting citizens, adding that although the current administration inherited the security problems, it must take decisive action.
“Government should stand up and not play politics with it,” he said. “President Tinubu and the Federal Government need to cooperate with Trump to deal with this cancer.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that President Tinubu has begun consultations with religious leaders amid reports of U.S. concerns and Trump’s warning of possible military action against terrorist elements operating in Nigeria.