There were emotions at a roundtable organized by the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) in Abuja on Wednesday where Christian leaders and human rights advocates expressed deep concern over the rising wave of religiously motivated killings in Nigeria.

According to them, no fewer than 16,769 Christians and 6,225 Muslims were killed between 2019 and 2023 in faith-related violence across the country.

While warning that the persistent persecution, mob killings, and destruction of places of worship threaten Nigeria?s unity, the religious leaders urged the Federal Government to establish the National Council on Freedom of Religion to investigate and prosecute those who violate the rights of citizens.

Speaking at the programme with the theme, ?Building Synergy among Faith-Based NGOs for Freedom of Religion or Belief?, the President of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, who spoke virtually, said the figures of victims underscore the reality of religious persecution in Nigeria.

He said that the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, sometimes with genocidal intent, was real.

Para-Mallam said that the government practices an undeclared policy of denialism when it comes to recognizing or addressing violations of religious freedom.

The religious leader decried the culture of impunity surrounding mob killings in the name of blasphemy, lamenting that those responsible are rarely prosecuted.

He said, ?Beyond the politics of numbers killed. The fact is about 145 Catholic Priests have been killed during the current insecurity experience in Nigeria. In a documentation done between 2019-2023, about 16,769 Christians killed and 6,235 Muslims killed. This isn?t an exhaustive research documentation it is what we were able to document in partnership with ORFA.

?The current debate of genocide or no genocide against Christians in Nigeria. It is misplaced. I will suggest the Government meets with credible Muslim and Christian leaders to agree on the fact of the killings and commit itself to stopping the killings.

?That?s more strategic and not focusing on narratives while lives co time to be wasted. No doubt Christians are being killed, Muslims to a lesser extent. Let?s stop the politics and focus on saving lives.?

Para-Mallam called on the Federal Government to establish a National Council on Freedom of Religion and Belief, comprising credible Christian and Muslim leaders, to rebuild trust and curb the cycle of violence.

Speaking, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),

The Convener of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, said Nigeria can no longer be described as a neutral state as religion now dictates public policy and governance.

He said Nigeria meets all the conditions to be redesignated by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern due to persistent violations of religious freedom.

Amadi said, ?Nigeria fulfills all the conditions to be on that list. Nigeria has been there before. If you look at reports from Open Doors, Nigeria is one of the worst places for Christians to live and this is not because some Christians are in power. Many Christians have held powerful positions, yet persecution continues.?

Amadi lamented that by allowing religious doctrines to influence state laws, Nigeria had destroyed the liberal spirit of its constitution, unlike countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia with stronger Islamic traditions but firmer boundaries between religion and state.

He added that what truly matters is justice for victims, not token representation in power.

?The only way to get Nigeria off that list is to create a Special Council on Freedom of Religion, with full autonomy to investigate and prosecute those who violate the rights of citizens?.

The Chief Executive of CHAIN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, warned that Nigeria cannot enjoy peace unless the government enforces equal justice for all victims of faith-related violence.

?Whenever a Christian is killed, we hear excuses. When a Muslim is attacked, we also hear excuses. Justice must not depend on who the victim is?, he said.

He decried the selective enforcement of justice, saying it emboldens extremists and widens the divide between Christians and Muslims.

Hayab urged faith leaders to work together beyond denominational boundaries to restore peace and build understanding among citizens.

Also speaking, the Head of the National Directorate of Religious Freedom of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), Joseph Danboyi, described blasphemy laws as a major threat to civic coexistence, free expression, and national unity.

He blamed weak prosecution and selective justice for the rise in faith-related violence, noting that the judiciary and security agencies have failed to deliver justice to victims. (AriseNews TV, but headline rejigged)

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