The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has stated that Christians in Nigeria are facing what he described as an ongoing “genocide.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu to work with United States President Donald Trump to address the growing attacks on Christian communities.
Speaking in Ibadan on Friday, Oke referenced several incidents, including the killing of Deborah Samuel, the abduction of Leah Sharibu, the Chibok schoolgirls, and repeated attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo in Ondo State, Niger, and Plateau.
He said hundreds of Christians and pastors have lost their lives in recent years.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria. No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the church is being stretched,” he said.
He clarified that the violence is being carried out by radical extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and their splinter factions, not by the Muslim community as a whole.
Oke urged President Tinubu to adopt a cooperative rather than confrontational approach with the U.S. government, saying collaboration with President Trump could help restore stability.
“The President should root out radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. Work together so Nigerians can live in peace,” he added.
He also reminded the federal government of its constitutional responsibility to protect all citizens and called for stronger, decisive action to tackle insecurity.
President Tinubu is currently consulting with religious leaders regarding the security crisis and the U.S. government’s warning of possible action against terrorist groups in Nigeria.