A new parliamentary report has raised
fears of an “unfolding genocide” in Nigeria,
where thousands of Christians have been
killed in recent years.
The report, by the UK All-Party
Parliamentary Group for International
Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG-FoRB)
warns of escalating violence in central
Nigeria, where Christian farming
communities are being targeted by armed
ethnic Fulani herdsmen.
The report warns that “the violence has
claimed the lives of thousands of people
and displaced hundreds of thousands
more”.
“It has caused untold human and economic
devastation and heightened existing ethno-
religious tensions,” it reads.
The violence is attributed to a range of
factors, including competition over
resources and the spread of extremist
ideology in the country, but the report also
blames the Nigerian government for failing
to respond adequately.
The report is dedicated to Leah Sharibu, a
Christian schoolgirl who was abducted two
years ago and kept prisoner for refusing to
convert to Islam.
Elsewhere, it highlights horrific attacks on
Christians by militants belonging to Boko
Haram and a faction, Islamic State West
Africa Province, which are linked to ISIS.
“Christians are being ruthlessly targeted,
specifically because of their faith,” the
report warns.
“Undoubtedly though, peaceable Muslims,
through collateral violence, can also
become victims of this cruel Islamist
religious ideology.
“It is a destructive and divisive ideology
which readily mutates into crimes against
humanity and can pave the way for
genocide. We must not hesitate in saying
so.”
The report calls on the international
community to take action to stop the
violence and bring perpetrators to justice.
Jim Shannon, Chair of the APPG-FoRB,
called on the UK Government to make
Christian persecution a priority.
“Among all the injustices for the UK to help
correct in the near future, the widespread
and growing persecution of Christians
should be top of the list,” he said in the
foreward to the report.
“These Christians, and other persecuted
minorities, must be our priority in the
aftermath of a pandemic that may
devastate communities already threatened
with extinction.
“Thus, as the UK faces the challenge of
lockdown and mass quarantine for the first
time in living memory, I ask you to please
spare a thought for those Christians who
face not only a pandemic but also threats
of violence and persecution that we can’t
imagine.
“I urge the UK and Nigerian Governments to
do all that they can to bring an end to this
violence and bring its perpetrators to
justice.”
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, welcomed
the report, saying it drew much needed
attention to the “dire situation for
vulnerable ethno-religious communities” in
central Nigeria.
“On an almost daily basis we receive
reports detailing the most appalling
violence against innocent civilians, and yet
the governments of affected states and the
federal government have failed woefully in
fulfilling their responsibility to protect
vulnerable villagers, to address the threat
posed by these and other armed non state-
actors, and to bring perpetrators of this
violence to justice,” he said.
“In addition, there has been a regrettable
failure on the part of the international
community to hold the Nigerian authorities
to account for their negligence in
addressing violence that is decimating
communities, claiming thousands of lives
and driving people groups from their
ancestral homes.
“We hope that this report will serve as a
wake-up call, alerting the UK government
and others of the need for swift and
concrete action to bring this appalling
human rights crisis to an end.”
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