The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to work with former United States President Donald Trump to tackle what he described as the “genocide against Christians” in Nigeria.
Bishop Oke said it was undeniable that widespread and targeted killings of Christians were ongoing in different parts of the country, especially in the northern and central regions.
Speaking to journalists on Friday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the PFN President warned that the patience of the Christian community was being “stretched to the limit” by continuous attacks and the government’s slow response to the crisis.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is no other name to call it. No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the church is being stretched,” Bishop Oke said.
He appealed to President Tinubu to seek collaboration with Donald Trump, who had previously raised concerns about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, saying such cooperation could help “root out radical groups” responsible for the killings.
During his tenure as US President, Donald Trump had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom and attacks on Christian communities.
Trump had described the situation as a “Christian genocide” and vowed that his administration would take steps to address it. However, the Nigerian government rejected the classification, arguing that the violence was driven by terrorism, banditry, and farmer-herder conflicts, not religion.
Despite Trump’s designation being later reversed by the Biden administration, the debate over whether Nigerian Christians are being specifically targeted has continued to generate controversy both locally and internationally.
Bishop Oke, one of Nigeria’s most influential Pentecostal leaders, listed several tragic incidents as evidence of the ongoing persecution of Christians.
He cited the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student murdered in Sokoto in 2022 over alleged blasphemy; the abduction of Leah Sharibu, who remains in Boko Haram captivity for refusing to renounce her faith; and the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014.
He also mentioned repeated attacks on Christian communities in Benue, Taraba, Niger, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and the Owo massacre in Ondo State, where gunmen opened fire on worshippers inside a Catholic church in 2022.
According to Oke, hundreds of Christian worshippers and pastors have been killed or displaced in recent years, while many churches have been burnt down or abandoned.
“These killings and kidnappings are not isolated incidents. They are systematic and targeted. It is time for our government to take strong action,” he said.
The PFN President clarified that the violence was being carried out by radical extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province), and their splinter cells. He stressed that these groups should not be mistaken for the larger Muslim population, which he described as peaceful and law-abiding.
“We must separate extremists from our Muslim brothers and sisters who desire peace. These terrorists are criminals hiding behind religion,” Oke said.
While acknowledging Trump’s previous concern for the safety of Christians in Nigeria, Bishop Oke warned against any form of foreign intervention that could destabilize the country.
He urged the Nigerian government to engage with international partners constructively rather than view them as adversaries.
“President Tinubu should ask for the cooperation of President Trump instead of opposing him. The President should root out radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. Work together so Nigerians can live in peace,” he advised.
The cleric emphasized that the federal government has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. He said although President Tinubu inherited the security challenges, his administration must demonstrate strong leadership to end the crisis.
“Government should stand up and not play politics with it. President Tinubu and the federal government need to cooperate with Trump to deal with this cancer,” Bishop Oke added.
Nigeria has faced years of violence linked to insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts. Groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to launch attacks in the North-East, while armed herders and bandits have also targeted communities in the North-Central region.
According to human rights groups, thousands of civilians — both Christians and Muslims have been killed or displaced. However, several international organisations, including the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have noted that a significant number of victims are from Christian-dominated areas.
The Nigerian government maintains that it does not condone any attack based on religion and that its security forces are working to protect all citizens. Successive administrations, from Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari, and now Bola Tinubu, have faced international pressure to do more to protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, sources within the Presidency confirmed that President Tinubu has begun consultations with both Christian and Muslim religious leaders following concerns about Trump’s recent statements and threats of possible action against terrorism in Nigeria.
The discussions reportedly aim to strengthen interfaith harmony and reassure Nigerians that the government is committed to safeguarding lives and property.
As the debate continues, the PFN President reiterated that Nigeria’s unity and stability depend on justice and equality.
He urged Christian leaders and citizens to remain peaceful while pressing for accountability. “We must not allow anger to divide us further. Let the government rise up and stop this bloodshed. Nigerians deserve to live without fear,” Oke said.
