Fresh attention has returned to past statements made by key Nigerian figures, including the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a former Minister of Information, over the persistent killings across the country.
Both men, in separate remarks before assuming or leaving public office, had condemned the rising wave of violence by Boko Haram and other extremist groups, describing the attacks as a “genocidal onslaught against Christians in Nigeria.”
The former Minister of Information had earlier stated that the killings were not random acts of terror but part of a deliberate campaign targeting Christian communities. According to him, “the violence has gone beyond insecurity — it is an organized attempt to wipe out a people.”
Similarly, the current INEC Chairman, long before his appointment, had publicly criticized the government’s silence on the matter, insisting that the repeated massacres in Christian-dominated areas were systematic and genocidal in nature. His past writings and statements, now resurfacing online, are being cited as evidence of how long such concerns have been raised without adequate government response.
However, observers note that the violence has not spared Muslims either. Reports indicate that several Muslim victims were killed after being labeled “not Muslim enough” by the jihadist groups. Analysts say this reflects the extremists’ broader intolerance, which targets anyone who rejects their ideology.
Civil rights groups and religious leaders have urged the government to revisit these past warnings and take stronger action against ongoing sectarian killings. They stress that addressing the root causes of extremism and ensuring justice for victims remain crucial steps toward ending the bloodshed.
As the debate resurfaces, many Nigerians are once again calling on the government to prioritize accountability, stressing that the battle against extremism is not about religion but about preserving humanity itself.
