Elders urge treason charges over reports to U.S., Dismiss claims of “Christian massacre”
Kola Oyelere, Kano
The National Patriotic Elders for Peace and Harmony of Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to institute treasonable felony charges against Nigerians who allegedly reported claims of a “Christian massacre” to the United States, accusing them of undermining the country’s sovereignty.
In a statement signed by its president, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, the group described such actions as “unpatriotic” and detrimental to national unity, stressing that Nigeria has adequate institutions to handle its internal security challenges.
“Nigeria is a sovereign country with sufficient laws and legal backing to take care of every concern of its citizens,” Dr. AbdulAziz said. “Reporting to other countries downgrades the sovereignty of the nation, and anybody who does that should be punished.”
The elders also urged northern governors to convene a regional security summit involving traditional rulers, religious figures, and community leaders to tackle the rising insecurity in the North. They emphasized the need for accurate documentation of violent incidents, with verified demographic and factual reports submitted to the appropriate authorities.
Dismissing reports that more than 500,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria, Dr. AbdulAziz described the figures as exaggerated and unsupported by credible evidence.
A cross fact-checking would clearly show that most of those killed from 1999 to date — 75 percent — are Muslims across the country,” he said, citing persistent attacks in states such as Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe.
He acknowledged that parts of the North Central zone — including Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, and Kwara — have suffered violent clashes, but maintained that many of the incidents stemmed from farmer–herder conflicts rather than religious persecution.
The group also accused the United States of adopting what it called a “false narrative” about a targeted massacre of Christians without verifying facts through Nigeria’s security and intelligence systems.
Dr. AbdulAziz alleged that political motives might be behind Washington’s position, suggesting that the U.S. could be reacting to President Tinubu’s diplomatic independence on global issues.
“We believe America may have another agenda behind the false claims of a ‘Christian massacre,’” he warned, adding that any punitive measures against Nigeria could destabilize peace and democracy across Africa.
The elders further appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider his alleged stance on the issue, saying hostility toward Nigeria would have far-reaching regional consequences.
Their statement comes amid renewed global scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation. The group urged Nigerian leaders to strengthen local solutions to insecurity and avoid externalizing internal challenges.
