On Pentecost Sunday this year, a terrorist attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Ondo state left over 40 people dead and more than 70 injured. The Christian Association of Nigeria described the attack as ‘raw persecution’, and called on the Nigerian president to find a lasting solution to ‘the unending killings in the country’.
We echo this call, along with many other NGOs across the world, and are working to persuade Nigeria’s government – and the international community – to take urgent action.
Violence in central Nigeria has been ongoing for over a decade now. Large-scale attacks by well-armed assailants from the Fulani tribe were first reported in Plateau state in March 2010, and spread across the central states, occurring cyclically and increasing rapidly from 2015 onwards.
Since then, this militia’s arsenal and tactics have become increasingly sophisticated and well-coordinated, with reports of the use of rocket-propelled grenades and even chemical weapons. It has also linked up with terrorist factions that usually operate in the north-east, allowing it to expand its operations.
In states such as Kaduna, Plateau and Benue, attacks occur on an almost daily basis. In southern Kaduna state alone, thousands have been killed and tens of thousands displaced from Christian communities.
Christians – and church leaders in particular – are primary targets for abduction and extortion, with at least 12 clergy losing their lives in the first six months of this year. Several were murdered even after ransom was paid.
The attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church – an act of terrorism against a place of worship, during a significant Christian festival – was the first time such an assault has occurred in the south of the country. If the last decade of violence was not enough, then surely this should serve as a wake-up call for the international community.
Early warning signs of genocide?
The causes of the violence are complex, and religion is a prominent, but not the sole, factor. There are also ethnic tensions, competition for resources, and the spread of extremist ideology.
In addition, for years there has been speculation about the role of elements within the security forces, as they consistently either respond far too late to calls for assistance during these attacks, fail to respond at all, or appear complicit.
In fact, in June a helicopter reportedly opened fire on villagers who were under attack in southern Kaduna if true, this would be the first time a helicopter has attacked communities on behalf of the Fulani militia.
This could indicate either another escalation in the weaponry available to the terrorists, or that the armed forces themselves have been infiltrated. In reality, it is likely that both scenarios are true to some extent.
In 2020 CSW submitted detailed evidence to a report by a cross-party group of British MPs entitled ‘Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide?’ which examined the escalating violence in the centre of the country. The report warned that the situation may bear the hallmarks of an emerging genocide – one of the gravest crimes under international law, defined as actions intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group in whole or in part.
The situation described in that report has worsened, and when world leaders gathered in London this summer to discuss freedom of religion or belief, they looked at the issue of early warning and atrocity prevention. This discussion highlighted the need for those in power to take note of early warning signs – including those that are currently evident in Nigeria – so that atrocity crimes such as genocide can be prevented.
Calling for action
During a Ministerial side event on Nigeria Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW Nigeria, called for urgent assistance for the Nigerian government to enable it to combat the rising tide of violence, which now affects civilians of all creeds and ethnicities.
He also called for a special session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), and an official HRC fact-finding mission to investigate the situation.
We are encouraging the international community to take action not only to assist the Nigerian government, but also to hold it accountable for any deliberate failure to protect citizens. Your gifts and prayers are helping us to work towards our vision of a free and peaceful Nigeria, where everyone can live without fear of violence, no matter what they believe.
Pray that powerful decision-makers will be inspired to take effective action very soon. Use Week 9 of the Prayer Diary to continue your prayers for Nigeria.