By Ebunoluwa Sessou

Senior Pastor of Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Dr. Israel Kristilere has insisted that, the ongoing attacks on Christian communities in the Northern Nigeria are nothing but “Christian genocide,” describing it as a systematic pattern of killings to wipe out Christians.

Speaking on the rising insecurity and recent international reactions to the crisis, the cleric said the situation fits the dictionary definition of genocide, which he described as “the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.”

According to him, the destruction of Christian communities across parts of the North especially in Plateau State has become too glaring to ignore.

“If by the definition of the word genocide in the dictionary, I can say categorically that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria.

“The deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people is happening in the northern part of Nigeria. We are all witnesses to the killing of Christian brothers especially in Plateau State”, he said.

He alleged that violent groups have continued to invade Christian communities, sack residents from their ancestral homes and take over villages.

“Before you know it, some of these Islamists are taking over their villages. They scare them away so that they can no longer come back. That is genocide,” he said.

He argued that denying the crisis amounts to either ignorance or an attempt to cover up the killings.
Reacting to the recent comment credited to former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Nigeria’s security situation, Pastor Kristilere said the warning should not be dismissed.

“The Trump threat to Nigeria is real. He is speaking from facts available to him. Christians are being killed deliberately and systematically in the northern part of Nigeria. That is the truth.”

He urged the Nigerian government to see Trump’s statement as an opportunity to reassess its strategy and seek international assistance if necessary.

The cleric challenged Christian leaders to stop downplaying the killings and confront the situation with honesty and unity.

“We should not pay lip service. We should not try to cover it because it is not happening to us. If it succeeds in the North, it can happen in the West and South. Let us speak the truth… encourage the government to do all they can to stop it.”

He added that Christian leaders must continue preaching peace while praying for God’s intervention, as well as for the perpetrators to be exposed and brought to justice.

Pastor Kristilere emphasized that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not responsible for the rise in killings; his administration like previous ones has not done enough to curb the violence.

“The current government is not the architect of Christian genocide but past and present governments have not done enough. While efforts are being made, these efforts are not showing. When your efforts are not showing, you have to do more.”

He condemned any form of negotiation or appeasement with bandits, urging stronger military action.
“The era of appeasing bandits by giving them money or jobs should be over. Let the military go to wherever they are and finish all of them.”

He also advised the government to take advantage of Trump’s remarks to seek global assistance.
“Trump will be willing to send American troops. Let our president sit with the president of America and discuss how America can help us. This is an opportunity to end this matter.”

“Nigeria is a free country. Practice whatever you believe within the confines of the law and all will be well”, he said.