Policy and Strategy Expert, Prof. Okey Okechukwu has offered a nuanced response to growing allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, urging the public to approach the sensitive issue with seriousness and accuracy rather than dismissal or exaggeration.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Prof. Okechukwu addressed the narrative that Christians across the country are systematically targeted, noting that while he personally has not experienced such threats, the situation in certain regions cannot be ignored.
In his words, “I am a Christian, nobody has killed me yet, but it will be trivializing the seriousness of what’s going on in the Middle Belt to say ‘oh, there is no such thing’.” His statement highlights the complexity of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region that has experienced years of clashes between armed groups, farming communities, and herders, often taking on ethnic and religious tones.
Prof. Okechukwu emphasized that while broad claims of genocide should be examined carefully, dismissing concerns outright undermines the lived experiences of communities affected by persistent attacks. According to him, the Middle Belt has endured a pattern of violence that demands government attention, thorough investigation, and thoughtful public discourse.
He cautioned against politicizing the situation or framing it through oversimplified narratives, stressing that doing so could hinder constructive solutions. Instead, Prof. Okechukwu called for a fact-based approach, deeper engagement with local realities, and accountability for perpetrators of violence regardless of their affiliations.
The expert also noted that Nigeria’s diverse religious landscape requires leaders to speak with restraint and responsibility, especially when addressing issues capable of inflaming tensions. He urged both citizens and policymakers to resist the temptation to generalize, while acknowledging the suffering of affected communities.
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