A United States human rights group has asked the United Nations (UN) to intervene in Nigeria to stop alleged Christian genocide across the nation.
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional and human rights law, is adamant that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria despite efforts by the nation’s government to deny it.
In its newslatter released on Saturday, the organisation, led by its Chief Counsel, Mr Jay Sekulow, wrote: “Now we’re demanding the U.N. act to stop the genocide of Christians in Nigeria. “
It further said: “A local church leader in Nigeria describes the situation as ‘a church under Islamist extermination. Now we face a midnight deadline as we fight to defend dying Christians.
“JUST days ago, over 300 Christian students – mostly girls – were abducted and forced into the forest at gunpoint. This follows the slaughter of 15 Christians in a nighttime attack as families went to bed – capping off three months of devastation in which pastors have been kidnapped and victims shot and killed.
READ ALSO: Trump appoints 2 U.S. legislators to lead investigation into ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria
‘There’s no urgency from Nigeria’s president. A church leader spoke on the lack of action: ‘Our children were kidnapped, but the government doesn’t seem to pay attention to it.’ Here’s the big picture: 32 Nigerian Christians are executed every day by Islamic radicals. Already this year, over 7,000 believers have been martyred for their faith in Nigeria. Violence is unchecked.”
The organisation continued, “Jordan JUST returned from D.C., where he met at the White House and with Speaker Mike Johnson, on this very issue – securing major pressure on Nigeria.”
Mr Sekulow is President Trump’s former lawyer.
Flurry of activities
Mr Trump, early this month, took two decisive decisions against Nigeria over alleged genocide against Christians and the government’s inability to contain it. He first redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ and followed it up with a threat to cut off aid and invade the nation to “wipe out Islamic terrorists.”
Mr Trump later appointed House Appropriations Committee Chairman, Mr Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Riley Moore (R-West Virginia), to lead an investigation into the alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria.
Mr Moore has been one of the most vocal U.S. legislators campaigning against anti-Christian practices in Nigeria. He introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives last Thursday condemning what he called ‘the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria,’ supporting President Trump’s announcement to officially designate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’
A hearing was held in the U.S., which divided American lawmakers, with some arguing that terorists kill both Christians and non-Christians. The National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Rubadu, consequently visited the U.S, meeeting several legislators, including the U.S. Secretary of War, Mr Pete Hegseth.
Mr Hegseth said at the emeeting that there was a need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring “action to stop violence against Christians.”
But on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’ last weekend, President Trump doubled down on his claim against Nigeria, saying: I” think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m furious about it.”
“And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria, which we’re going to end up stopping. The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know, until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it,” he said.n
Pesident Bola Tinubu has since strengthened Nigeria’s security architurement. He declared a state of emergency on insecurity, deploying Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Bello Matawalle, to Kebbi State.
