A former General Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, has supported claims made by some U.S. Senators that Christians in Nigeria are victims of a growing genocide.
Speaking during a book launch held in his honour at Kaduna State University on Thursday, Rev. Nmadu said the killings targeting Christian communities have taken a disturbing pattern.
“There are many killings affecting Christian communities in Nigeria. Whether we call it genocide or not is another issue, but what looks like genocide is happening,” he stated.
He urged the Nigerian government to act decisively to stop the bloodshed and protect citizens.
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“The government must rise to protect not just Christians but all citizens, because what good is it if everyone dies in the name of politics?” he added.
Nmadu, who has been vocal on religious freedom and human rights, acknowledged that the current administration has shown renewed interest in tackling insecurity. However, he said the challenge runs deeper than what the public sees, alleging that some insiders are profiting from the chaos.
“Some insiders are using insecurity for their own benefit to make the government ungovernable. To solve this, we must identify and cut off the sponsors,” he declared.
He also criticised the Niger State Governor’s proposal to regulate religious preaching, describing it as ignorant and a breach of freedom of religion.
“Sometimes, as a pastor, the Holy Spirit can inspire you to say things beyond what you prepared. So, who do we obey, the government or the Holy Spirit?” he asked.
Nmadu also called on religious leaders to avoid using the pulpit to promote hate or division, but rather to focus on teachings that unite and build peace.
During the event, Prof. Helen Ando, who reviewed the book, described it as more than just a biography, noting that it reflects Nmadu’s values, faith, and contribution to promoting an inclusive society.
“His involvement in promoting freedom of religion in Nigeria demonstrates how faith leaders can engage government while practising their religion in harmony,” she said.
Politics Nigeria reports that the development follows recent comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers who accused Nigerian authorities of ignoring attacks on Christians.
The senators introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, seeking to list Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and impose sanctions on officials allegedly involved in religious persecution.
According to the lawmakers, they cited incidents such as the killing of 70 Christians in Benue State, the abduction of schoolchildren in Niger State, and several other attacks between 2024 and 2025.
However, the Nigerian government and the National Assembly have, however, rejected the genocide claim, insisting that insecurity affects people of all faiths and is driven by terrorism, banditry, and communal conflict rather than religion.
