Bishop (Prof) Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, has replied US President Donald Trump.
At a Press Briefing by Bishop (Prof) Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria Lagos State Chapter, responded to United States President Donald Trump’s Comments About “Christian Genocide” in Nigeria and Threats of a Military Invasion.
“We have taken note of the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that a “Christian genocide” is taking place in Nigeria and that the United States may take military action. While we appreciate his concern for the safety of Christians worldwide, it is important to clarify that the situation in Nigeria — tragic as it often is — cannot be accurately described as a targeted campaign of genocide against Christians.”
Christians Have Suffered Deeply — But So Have Muslims
There is no doubt that Christian communities across Nigeria have endured terrible suffering. Churches have been attacked, pastors kidnapped, and families displaced by terrorists, bandits, and criminal herders. We have mourned our brothers and sisters, particularly in the Middle Belt and the North-East, where insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have struck mercilessly.
However, it is equally true that Muslim communities have suffered immensely as well. Entire villages have been destroyed in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Borno States — areas with overwhelmingly Muslim populations. Banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes have claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides of faith, and no community can claim to have been spared.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), between 2020 and 2025, more than 20,000 civilians were killed in various conflicts across Nigeria. Independent research by the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) indicates that between October 2019 and September 2023, 55,910 people were killed in 9,970 deadly attacks across the country. Among those, at least 16,769 were Christians and 6,235 were Muslims. These figures make one truth abundantly clear — Nigeria’s crisis is not a religious war, but a national security emergency rooted in terrorism, criminality.
Nigeria’s Religious Leaders Stand United Against Violence
We, as Christian leaders, work closely with our Muslim counterparts under the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to foster peace and mutual understanding. Our message has been consistent and unwavering: terrorism has no religion, and banditry has no faith.
When one community suffers, the entire nation bleeds. Our collective work — from national interfaith dialogue to joint humanitarian missions — reflects our conviction that Nigeria’s path to peace lies in unity, not division.
The Federal and State Governments Are Taking Steps
We acknowledge the Nigerian Government’s ongoing military operations against insurgent and bandit groups in the North-East, North-West, and Middle Belt. Several terrorist leaders have been neutralised, kidnappers arrested, and communities resettled.
While much remains to be done, it is only fair to recognise that progress is being made. The government does not — and has never — sanctioned violence against any faith group. Rather, it faces a complex web of security challenges that affect everyone, regardless of religion.
Nigeria Needs Partnership, Not Threats
What Nigeria needs from the United States and its allies is partnership, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism training, and humanitarian aid — not threats of “gun-a-blazing” intervention.
Nigeria is a complex, multi-ethnic democracy with more than 220 million citizens and over 250 ethnic nationalities. It is home to Africa’s largest Christian and Muslim populations living side by side. Any reckless military action or misinformed intervention from abroad could destabilise the entire West African sub-region, triggering refugee crises, economic collapse, and extremist resurgence.
Nigeria’s sheer population size and the ingenuity of its people mean that instability here will ripple far beyond our borders — undermining peace, trade, and democracy across Africa. What we need is strategic cooperation, not coercion.
A Call for Responsible Speech and Global Solidarity
When a global figure such as President Trump describes Nigeria’s crisis as a “Christian genocide,” it risks inflaming divisions and painting our multi-faith nation as a place of religious war — which it is not. Such rhetoric, combined with talk of foreign military involvement, is not only unhelpful but dangerous.
We urge all international observers, politicians, and advocacy groups to engage with verified facts and to support initiatives that bring healing, justice, and peace — not narratives that divide.
Our Appeal
To our Christian brethren around the world: please continue to pray for Nigeria. But also pray for our Muslim neighbours, who, like us, bury their dead and long for peace.
To our leaders at home: intensify security operations, strengthen justice systems, and ensure that every Nigerian — regardless of faith — can live and worship freely.
To our friends abroad: partner with us in rebuilding our communities, educating our children, and restoring hope. Nigeria’s story is not one of genocide, but of a resilient people determined to overcome terror, protect their faiths, and preserve unity.
Conclusion
We appreciate every voice raised for the protection of the persecuted. But let the truth be told: Nigeria’s battle is not Christians versus Muslims — it is Nigerians versus terror. Our appeal is for compassion, not conflict; cooperation, not chaos.
