Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, has raised concerns over what he described as the “targeted persecution of Christians” in parts of Nigeria, calling on the nation to confront escalating violence before it becomes normalized.
Speaking at a press conference organized by Christ Compassion to the Rural World (CCRW), Ashimolowo urged public debate on whether recent attacks on Christians meet the definition of genocide.
“The dictionary defines genocide as deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people from a particular national or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group,” he said.
Recalling his experiences growing up in Zaria, Kaduna State, during communal violence, the pastor stressed that his concerns are informed by personal experience rather than media reports. He cited incidents ranging from the Maitatsine crisis and Zangon-Kataf clashes to the killing of Christian evangelists, the murder of Deborah Samuel, and repeated attacks in Benue and Southern Kaduna.
“Is that genocide or not?” he repeatedly asked, highlighting the pattern of violence over decades.
Ashimolowo described insecurity in Nigeria as “a snake with many heads,” pointing to banditry, terrorism, armed herders, extortion, and the displacement of communities as major threats. He criticized the lack of a strong national or legal response to attacks on Christian communities.
Citing the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls and other incidents, he questioned the apparent forgiveness of perpetrators without judicial processes, asking: “Which court of law forgave them? How can someone who killed and raped now serve in the military or Air Force?”
He also recalled visiting Maiduguri in 1987, noting that churches were restricted to certain areas and some had been destroyed by attackers. “Are there two Nigerias?” he asked.
Ashimolowo warned that the persistence of terror indicates deeper forces at play, urging Nigerians to confront the reality of violence in the country. “We cannot say there is no genocide. But if you say there is none, answer my questions,” he concluded.
