ADC Raises Alarm: Nigeria Facing Rising Violence and Fears of Christian Genocide
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the killing and abduction of worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
The party warned that the “Christian genocide” narrative, previously dismissed, is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy under the Tinubu administration.
Naija News reports that terrorists had invaded the church during a live programme.
At least three people were reportedly killed, several others injured, and an unspecified number abducted.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the party accused the Federal Government of being reactive and defensive instead of confronting the challenge.
The full statement read: “The African Democratic Congress, ADC, condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where innocent worshippers were murdered during a church service, and others, including the pastor, abducted. This tragedy is another painful reminder of the pervasive insecurity that has taken root across the country.
“Coming within hours of another attack in Kebbi State where school officials were killed and students abducted, this particularly brutal attack and abduction give the impression that this government has lost control and Nigerians now live at the mercy of gunmen who are now emboldened by government’s failure to act decisively.
“The ADC is particularly concerned that the Christian genocide narrative, which we dismissed when it was first proposed, is gradually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the failure of the government to conduct an honest appraisal of the problem.
“We were indeed dismayed by the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a recent interview claiming that only 177 Christians have been killed in the last five years. We find this statement unfortunate and offensive, and if it reflects the thinking within the Federal Government, such a statement would explain why this government has failed to address the problem and why they cannot be trusted to solve it.
“We would like to reiterate, deaths cannot be reduced to numbers. It does not matter how many people have been killed or what religion or language they speak. As seen in the video of the Eruku church attack, one poor old woman cut down by bullets while she prays is enough. But this government does not know how to take responsibility or how to be accountable. Or else, how can an official of government engage in the wrong-headed and dangerous race-to-the-bottom argument over which religious group has recorded more casualties in the country?
“Does 177 deaths make this situation more acceptable? Or does the argument that more Muslims have been killed make it less tragic?
“In addition to the wanton killings, what is shaping up as another great tragedy is the Tinubu government’s defensive mindset and its growing tendency to minimise the scale of this crisis. But the truth is that under this Tinubu administration, Nigeria is fast turning into a killing field, and the President does not appear to recognise that his most important job is to protect life.
“Nigeria is bleeding, communities are grieving, families are being destroyed, and the government continues to respond with excuses, denial, and dangerous rhetoric.
The ADC calls on the Federal Government to arrest this growing anarchy before it consumes us all. Nigerians deserve protection, not platitudes. Our houses of worship must be safe, our communities must be safe, our country must be safe.”