Don’t categories terrorism as genocide, Northern Christian Group Warns

The Northern Nigeria Christian Youth Network (NNCYN), the apex body for Christian youths across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory has called for concerted effort in fighting terrorism and criminality in the country warning that labelling the killings as genocide was diversionary.

NNCYN in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Lawrence Samaila urged security agencies to be decisive in discharging their duties noting that the killings were an indictment on the security architecture and a profound crisis of leadership.

While acknowledging that the killings were carried out by Islamist extremists, the group argued that both Christians and Muslims were victims of the crises.

“We have watched with utter dismay as the fabric of our society is torn apart by terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers who operate with impunity in the name of Bokoharam/ISWAP.

“Recently, the Mahmuda group and Lakurawa groups have been terrorising Kwara and Kogi states in the North Central region. The continuous bloodletting, mass abductions, and wanton destruction of livelihoods have become a national embarrassment and a source of untold anguish for millions of Nigerians.

“The litany of pain is long and unforgivable, communities in the northern part of the country are the most terrorized. From the endless killings and abductions in Plateau and Kaduna, especially southern Kaduna to the herders and farmers attacks in Benue. Niger, Kwara and Kogi states. As a matter of fact, across the nineteen nothern states, every state is battling with terrorism of a kind. Lives are lost, people displaced and property destroyed. Each life lost is a testament to a failing security architecture and a profound crisis of leadership.

“While some have sought to frame this crisis in religious terms, the NNCYN categorically states that the primary character of this insecurity is terrorism and criminality, not a Christian genocide. To label it solely as a religious war is to misunderstand the crisis and play into the divisive hands of the perpetrators. These bloodthirsty elements do not discriminate, they kill Muslims and Christians alike, they kidnap from all faiths, and they destroy properties belonging to everyone. Their god is not Allah or Jehovah; their god is chaos, money, and power.

“We strongly warn that singling out this insecurity as solely a Christian genocide is not only inaccurate but also dangerously counterproductive. Such a narrow framing prevents a holistic solution and needlessly sows tension and distrust between the Christian and Muslim communities, whose peaceful coexistence is vital for national unity. We must not fall into this trap. Our fight is not against each other, but against the common enemies of terror and criminality”.

NNCYN further warned sponsors of the terror to desist from such dastard acts stressing that the day of reckoning was near

“For the unscrupulous politicians and elites who, for political expediency are directly or indirectly sponsoring these killings, banditry, and kidnappings: Your day of reckoning is near. You are trading in human blood for electoral gains and to destabilize your opponents. We call on you to desist from this evil immediately. The God of justice sees you, and the Nigerian people will ultimately hold you accountable, the group noted.