American Fact-Finding Team Confirms Religious Killings In Nigeria As Group Makes Recommendations To Tinubu Govt
The American fact-finding mission has confirmed the ongoing persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria as “a calculated and long-running genocide,” while suggesting urgent measures for the President Bola Tinubu-led Government.
The U.S. fact-finding delegation, led by Retired Mayor Mike Arnold of Blanco, Texas, included Retired Ambassador Lewis Lucke, Pastor Jed D’Grace, and Mr. Judd Saul.
The team was invited by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and coordinated by presidential aide and social media influencer, Reno Omokri, to investigate allegations of persecution against Christians.
This was contained in a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).
The intersociety, in a statement issued on Monday, said it has been “fully vindicated” by the American fact-finding mission’s findings.
According to Intersociety, the American team, which was “procured by the Nigerian Government itself”, refused to compromise its integrity and instead exposed the scale of religious violence ravaging parts of the country.
The group described the development as “a grim but rare opportunity for the Tinubu administration and lawmakers to save Nigeria from further international embarrassment and targeted sanctions.”
The US delegation publicly affirmed that widespread killings and displacements in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria amount to “an ongoing genocide.”
“The campaign of violence and displacement in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria does indeed constitute a calculated, current and long-running genocide against Christian communities and other religious minorities, without any reasonable doubt,” Intersociety quoted Mayor Arnold as saying during a press conference in Abuja.
“To continue to deny this is to be complicit in these atrocities. I say this not in anger, but in truth and grief.”
Intersociety noted that Arnold clarified that although his trip and accommodation were funded by the Nigerian Government, he received no compensation or inducement, and his statement was made independently
“I came only to give, serve, and stand with the people of this country whom I dearly love as my second home,” Arnold was quoted as saying.
Intersociety, which monitored the October 14 Abuja press conference, alleged that the event received “little or no coverage” despite the presence of several media houses.
“Attempts were made to twist and adulterate the original findings of the report when the plotted false narratives did not fly,” the organisation said.
Intersociety described the American findings as “a wake-up call” for Nigerian authorities to act decisively to prevent the country from being designated by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern”, a status that could lead to targeted sanctions against top political and security officials.
“The Nigerian Government must stop defending the indefensible and squandering public funds on falsehood, propaganda, and international lobbying,” the statement said. “Leaders must rise to the occasion before it is too late.”
Intersociety outlined 21 urgent policy measures it said President Tinubu’s administration must undertake to preserve national unity, restore secular governance, and safeguard religious freedom.
The group warned that ignoring these steps could lead to “complex humanitarian emergencies” that may affect not just Nigeria but the wider African region and Western nations.
The key recommendations include: “Uphold the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution, especially Sections 10 and 38, which guarantee secularism and freedom of religion.
“Abolish blasphemy and Sharia enforcement laws conflicting with constitutional provisions. End all forms of “State Jihadism” and uphold Nigeria’s secular status.
Transition to human-security governance focused on peace and development. Convene a national conference of Nigeria’s 384 ethnic nationalities to agree on peaceful coexistence.
“Stop ethno-religious bias in the security sector, especially in the South-East. Investigate and account for 5,000 missing detainees allegedly transferred from the South-East to secret facilities in the North since 2015.
“End indiscriminate arrests, profiling, and killings based on ethnicity or religion. De-radicalize security forces and instill professionalism and respect for human rights. Disarm jihadist militias and repatriate foreign fighters occupying Nigeria’s forests.
“Resettle displaced indigenous communities and restore ancestral farmlands. Rescue and account for over 850 Christian hostages held in Rijana Forest, Kaduna State. Abolish Muslim-Muslim presidential ticketing and ensure religious balance in leadership.
“Conduct a credible national census and identify illegal armed migrants. Proscribe violent herders’ groups such as MACBAN and FUNAM if they fail to disarm. End State-backed ranching policies linked to conflicts and recover occupied territories, especially in Niger State.
The organisation further called on the Tinubu government to learn from global examples of peaceful restructuring, such as the Tanzania Union (1964), Germany’s unification (1989), and Sudan’s peace agreement (2005).
The organisation described the current moment as “defining for Nigeria’s future stability.”
“This is not just about faith; it is about national survival. If Nigeria implodes, the consequences will spread beyond Africa to Europe, America, and Asia,” the group warned.
The intersociety, in a statement issued on Monday, said it has been “fully vindicated” by the American fact-finding mission’s findings.
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