By:
Bello Galadi (Turakin Galadi, Chiroman Batauna)
- The International Coalition Against Christian Genocide in Nigeria petitioned the United States of America (US) lawmakers and claimed that tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been killed over the years.
- Few days ago, some United States of America (US) senators called for decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over alleged “persecution of Christians” in Nigeria, and seek the re-designation of Nigeria as “country of particular concern”.
- It is apparent that the US is preparing the groundwork to label Nigeria a ‘Terrorist State’ to justify invasion.
- As the president of the leading democracy in the world, I expect President Trump to collaborate with the Nigerian government to compile a comprehensive data of the victims and launch a thorough investigation into the allegations, so as to identify the culprits, unravel their mission and their targets, arrest, investigate and prosecute them before a court of law.
- Regrettably, yesterday, Saturday, 1st November, 2025, President Trump threatened Nigeria with military action and withdrawal of all US support.
- To me, this judgement is unprecedented and erroneous because it was based on inaccurate and misleading data.
- I have tremendous respect for President Trump. There is, however, no justification for the threat and withdrawal of support to Nigeria by the US.
- Nigeria is a strategic partner to the US. In as much as Nigeria needs US, US too, needs Nigeria.
- Military intervention is akin to interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria and a threat to its territorial integrity and political independence, contrary to Article 2 of the United Nations Charter.
- Even though genocide is an international affair, the culprits are usually individuals not nations.
- I am not holding brief for President Tinubu, but knowing his pedigree, he will never support the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. But if the US government or any other person has evidence to the contrary, the president can be petitioned, arrested, investigated and prosecuted before the International Criminal Court (ICC) after his tenure. It makes no sense to me and sounds absurd for the US to attack 250, 000, 000 (two hundred and fifty million) innocent Nigerians who are battling with insecurity, bad governance, joblessness, poverty, hunger and illiteracy, for the offence committed by few among us.
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates, and where necessary, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crimes of aggression, in line with the international treaty known as the Rome Statute.
- As a lawyer, I am committed to upholding religious freedom, democracy, constitutionalism, rule of law and human rights. I am conscious of the provision of section 33(1)&(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Right to life is sacrosanct in Nigeria.
- To the best of my knowledge, the killings in the Northern part of Nigeria, are not driven by religious motives. Many of these terrorists are not even Muslims. They pretend to be Nigerians and disguise as Jihadists to discredit Islam.
- In the North- west, bandits kill both Muslims and Christians, irrespective of religion. In the North- east, Boko Haram kill both Muslims and Christians. In the North- central, it is more of a farmer- herder clashes. Both Muslims and Christians unarguably suffer from the killings proportionately. For instance:
a. On 11th August, 2013, at Konduga, Borno State, Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on worshipers during dawn (Fajr) prayers, at the Konduga Central Mosque and killed over 44 people and injured over 22 others.
b. On 3rd November, 2014, at Potiskum, Yobe State, a suicide bomber killed 15 people and injured over 50 others.
c. On 28th November, 2014, in Kano city, Kano State, Boko Haram attacked the Kano Central Mosque during packed Friday prayers and killed over 81 people and injured over 100 others.
d. On 17th July, 2015, at Damaturu, Yobe State, on the morning of Eid al Fitr, Boko Haram attacked Eid Ground and killed over 50 people.
e. On 15th October, 2015, in Maiduguri, Borno State, Boko Haram attacked a Mosque in the western part of Maiduguri and killed over 42 people.
f. On 27th November, 2015, in Dakasoye, Kano State, Boko Haram attacked Shia Muslims during their Arba’in Procession and killed over 21 people.
g. On 16th March, 2016, at Molai- Umarari, near Maiduguri, Borno State, Boko Haram attacked a Mosque during dawn (Fajr) prayers and killed over 24 people and injured over 18 others.
h. On 16th January, 2017, in Maiduguri, Borno State, Boko Haram attacked the University of Maiduguri Staff Quarters Mosque during dawn (Fajr) prayers and killed 4 people, including a University Professor and injured over 15 others.
i. On 21st November, 2017, in Mubi, Adamawa State, Boko Haram attacked Madina Mosque during dawn (Fajr) prayer and killed over 50 people.
j. On 1st May, 2018, in Mubi, Adamawa State, Boko Haram attacked a Mosque during afternoon (Zuhr) prayer and killed over 27 people and injured over 56 others.
k. On 23rd July, 2018, in Konduga, Borno State, Boko Haram attacked a community Mosque in Konduga during dawn (Fajr) prayers and killed 13 people and injured 8 others.
l. On 27th July, 2019, in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State, Boko Haram attacked villagers returning from a funeral near Gajiram and killed over 100 people.
m. On 25th October, 2021, at Mazakuka, Mashegu LGA, Niger State, armed bandits attacked a Mosque during dawn (Fajr) prayer and killed over 18 people, including the Chief Imam and injured 4 others.
n. On 5th October, 2021, at Yasore, Katsina State, armed bandits attacked a Mosque in Yasore village, Kankara LGA during evening (Magrib) prayer and killed over 10 people injured several others.
o. On 5th November, 2023, in Funtua, Katsina State, armed bandits attacked a Maulud Procession and killed over 20 people and kidnapped several others.
p. On 19th August, 2025, at Unguwan Mantau, Malunfashi LGA, Katsina State, during dawn (Fajr) prayer, armed bandits attacked a Mosque in the village and killed 27 people and injured several others.
Note that the list is not exhaustive as there were several incidences that have not been reported. - In Northern Nigeria, Muslims and Christians live in harmony and interact peacefully for several decades. This Christian Genocide narrative has the tendency to create unnecessary tension, deepen the divisions and mistrust, thereby instigate them to take up arms against each other.
- I am appealing to President Trump to exercise circumspection and profound cautionary judgement, by exploring political, diplomatic and legal channels in dealing with this issue, instead of military option.
- I appeal to President Tinubu to constitute a Fact- Finding Committee of the Federal Government, so as to uncover the remote and immediate causes of the killings in Northern Nigeria and proffer solutions.
- Similarly, State Governors in whose territory the alleged killings took place, should also constitute Fact- Finding Committees to uncover the remote and immediate causes of the killings in their states and proffer solutions.
- I urge all security agencies in Nigeria to remain vigil, focused, steadfast and professional in handling this situation.
- On the final note, I most humbly, appeal to our political, religious and community leaders, pressure groups, professional organizations, labour unions, students and all lovers of Nigeria, to speak in unison and condemn the move by the US to use military action against Nigeria and withdraw its support.
- This is not about religion, it is about our country, Nigeria; our unity, sovereignty, independence, freedom and our resources.
Galadi is a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gusau Branch (covering Zamfara State). He is the President of Bello Galadi Foundation.
He can be reached on:
Muhammadbel_law@yahoo.com and muhammadbellaw80@gmail.com and twitter handle:@bello_galadi1
2nd November, 2025
