The Nigerian government has been urged to acknowledge and address the alleged genocide against Christians in the country, rather than denying its existence. The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) made this call in response to the federal government’s reaction to a threat by US President Donald Trump to use military force against terrorists in Nigeria.
According to the IWA, evidence of systematic killings of Christians in Nigeria is overwhelming, and those denying it must be accomplices. The group’s president, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, stated that the government’s denial will not help the situation and that only by acknowledging the problem can efforts be made to stop the killings.
The IWA welcomed President Trump’s actions, including designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and his threat to take action against terrorists. The group appreciated Trump’s attention to the killing of Christians and indigenous Nigerians, stating that anybody denying genocidal killings in Nigeria must be an accomplice.
The group criticized the Nigerian government for turning a blind eye to unprovoked attacks against Christians by Islamic fundamentalists until Trump’s intervention. They also blamed the local and international media for not putting the atrocities in proper perspective, instead using politically correct euphemisms to describe the killings.
The IWA pointed out that the genocidal killings of Christians and indigenous populations have been masked in a conspiracy of silence, with the government pampering the perpetrators. They argued that the casualty figures speak for themselves, with hundreds of church buildings razed down, compared to few mosques.
The group faulted arguments that Muslims also suffer the same fate, stating that the philosophy and agenda of the attackers are clear, targeting mostly Christians and non-Muslims. They questioned the government’s stance, asking what the attackers’ slogan is as they kill their victims, mostly Christians and non-Muslims.
The IWA’s call comes as the Nigerian government faces increasing pressure to address the persistent killings in the country. The group’s statement highlights the need for the government to take concrete steps to stop the killings and protect its citizens, rather than denying the existence of the problem. With the international community, including the US, taking notice of the situation, the Nigerian government may be forced to re-evaluate its approach to addressing the violence.