Genocide in Nigeria: Bishop Wale Oke Laments Continued Killing of Christians Despite President Trump’s Intervention

The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, has once again raised alarm over the persistent and gruesome killing of Christians in different parts of Nigeria, particularly in Benue State, despite repeated global outrage and strong condemnation by United States President Donald Trump. The PFN leader described the situation as “a national tragedy that has turned many parts of the Middle Belt into mass graveyards,” calling for urgent action from the Nigerian government and international community before it becomes irreversible.

Bishop Oke, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, expressed deep sorrow over what he termed a “slow and silent genocide” against Christians in Nigeria. According to him, “it is heartbreaking that the blood of innocent believers continues to stain the soil of our nation daily, even after President Trump’s warning to the Nigerian authorities to stop the persecution of Christians or face serious consequences.”

He noted that although Trump’s statement months ago drew global attention to Nigeria’s worsening religious violence, the killings have not only continued but have also spread to new regions with shocking brutality. “President Donald Trump showed moral courage when he called out the Nigerian government over these killings. He spoke truth to power and demanded accountability,” Bishop Oke said. “Unfortunately, rather than abating, the attacks have intensified, and the perpetrators seem emboldened.”

Fresh Attacks Despite Global Outcry

In the weeks following President Trump’s warning, several fresh genocidal incidents were recorded, particularly in Benue, Plateau, and southern Kaduna. Reports indicate that heavily armed militants suspected to be herdsmen invaded two farming communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing no fewer than 43 people, including women and children. Survivors narrated that the attackers came at night, setting houses ablaze and shooting anyone in sight.

One survivor, Mrs. Elizabeth Terungwa, recounted her ordeal: “They came shouting ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and shooting. My husband tried to help our neighbors escape but was shot in front of me. I still don’t know where my two children are.”

In Plateau State, a similar wave of coordinated assaults was launched on Christian communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas. Dozens of homes were reduced to ashes, and local churches, including the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Mangu, were razed. According to community leaders, the attacks were carried out over two consecutive nights, leaving more than 60 people dead and hundreds displaced.

“Despite repeated alerts to security forces, help never came,” lamented Rev. Luka Dogo, a local pastor. “We buried our members in shallow graves. How long will this continue before the world accepts that what is happening here is genocide?”

The Trump Effect and Global Response

When President Donald Trump publicly condemned the killing of Christians in Nigeria earlier this year, his statement was widely praised by faith-based organizations around the world. Trump had warned that the United States “will not remain silent while Christian communities in Nigeria are being wiped out.” The statement prompted international human rights bodies to renew investigations into religious persecution in the country.

However, despite the global pressure, the killings appear to have escalated. Analysts suggest that some extremist groups may be reacting defiantly to Trump’s strong rhetoric, attempting to send a message of dominance and fear. Others believe the attacks reflect the Nigerian government’s inability—or unwillingness—to curb the violence.

Security expert and human rights activist, Comrade Tunde Salako, told Newsworld that the persistence of these killings even after international condemnation shows a “deep-seated systemic failure.” He said, “What we are witnessing is not random violence. This is a well-orchestrated extermination campaign targeting Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt. If the Nigerian state cannot protect its citizens, then international intervention may become inevitable.”

Benue’s Endless Tears

Benue State has remained the epicenter of these genocidal attacks. Since the beginning of 2025, hundreds of people have been killed, with entire villages deserted. Governor Hyacinth Alia, while visiting one of the affected communities in Logo Local Government, described the killings as “barbaric and inhumane.” He called on the Federal Government to deploy additional troops to the region, insisting that “Benue cannot continue to be a slaughterhouse.”

Yet, Bishop Wale Oke lamented that despite such appeals, the bloodshed has persisted with little intervention. “How many more must die before Nigeria wakes up?” he asked rhetorically. “These are not accidents or isolated incidents; they are targeted killings based on faith. The Church has cried for too long. Our leaders must rise above politics and confront this evil.”

A Call for Justice and Global Action

The PFN president urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take decisive measures to end the carnage and bring the perpetrators to justice. He also appealed to the international community, particularly the United Nations and the U.S. government, to hold accountable those who enable or fund these genocidal attacks.

“President Trump showed that the world is watching,” Bishop Oke said. “Now it is time for Nigeria’s leaders to prove that they value human life and religious freedom. The Church will not remain silent while its members are being slaughtered.”

He further warned that the ongoing genocide could ignite wider religious unrest if not contained quickly. “The killings must stop. Justice must prevail. We need peace built on truth, not denial,” he concluded.

Despite President Donald Trump’s strong condemnation and the global outrage that followed, the killing of Christians in Nigeria has continued unabated, with fresh waves of violence leaving more deaths and displacement in their wake. The cries from Benue, Plateau, and southern Kaduna are clear evidence that words alone are no longer enough. Unless concrete actions are taken—both by Nigeria’s leadership and the international community—the blood of the innocent will continue to flow, staining the conscience of the world.