President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Bishop Wale Oke has said that the killing of Christians in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Benue State, has continued despite international attention and condemnation by former United States President Donald Trump.
Bishop Oke spoke on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday alongside Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam, president of the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation.
“Since Donald Trump spoke about this thing, the killings have still been going on in Benue State,” he said.
He described the situation as a “Christian genocide” that has persisted for over 15 years.
“Indeed, there’s Christian genocide in Nigeria, and it’s been going on for over 15 years now,” Oke stated. “This administration inherited the challenge, so we’re not blaming them for it, but we are holding them accountable for the lives of every Christian in Nigeria.”
The cleric recalled several tragic incidents, including the alleged massacre of more than 500 Christians in one night at Dogo Nawa and the mass burial of victims in Benue State on Christmas Day.
He said he witnessed coffins lined up during the burial.
“I cannot hold back my tears that day when I saw the line-up of coffins,” he said.
“We are not in an active war, yet innocent people are being killed simply for the offence of being Christians.”
Oke also cited individual attacks across the northern region, including the case of a pastor whose family was attacked by Boko Haram.
“They attacked his family, slaughtered the twins his wife had just given birth to, like rams, right in front of her,” he narrated.
“The church had to rehabilitate her over time because she went insane from the trauma.”
Wale Oke further mentioned the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls, noting that the Chibok community is predominantly Christian.
Reverend Para-Mallam, who also spoke during the interview, called on the government to show stronger commitment to protecting lives and ensuring justice for victims of religiously motivated violence.
He said, “We want the killings to stop. If it stops, we will be the first to acknowledge it.”
