Killings of Christians Are Not New, Do Not Amount to Genocide — Pastor Wale Adefarasin Questions Trump’s Motives Over Nigeria

Pastor Wale Adefarasin of the Guiding Light Assembly in Lagos has dismissed recent claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing the narrative as exaggerated and politically motivated. Speaking during a Sunday service on November 2, Adefarasin said that while attacks on Christians have occurred in various parts of the country for decades, they do not amount to genocide.

The cleric recalled past incidents of violence in Southern Kaduna and Plateau State, noting that such events have been part of Nigeria’s long and complex religious tensions. He cited instances where global controversies, including those unrelated to Nigeria, had triggered local unrest and killings of Christians.

Adefarasin questioned the sudden Western interest in Nigeria’s religious issues, suggesting that it may be driven by economic motives rather than genuine concern. He speculated that the attention could be linked to Nigeria’s growing energy infrastructure and the recent discovery of valuable minerals used in advanced technologies.

“The way the West is talking about it is as if a Christian steps on the street and his head will be blown off,” Adefarasin said. “I’m trying to understand this sudden love for Christians. Is it because we now have one of the largest refineries in the world or because of the 21st-century minerals in our soil that are vital for nuclear power and electric vehicles? Are those the reasons our friends are suddenly threatening to invade Nigeria to protect Christians?”

His remarks come amid renewed international attention on religious violence in Nigeria, following comments by President Donald Trump suggesting that Christians in the country are being systematically targeted.