Christianity Persecution, Struggle For Peace & Justice in Nigeria

By Dayo Olubo Dayo

Now I understand that Christianity is not about having big church buildings or large numbers of congregation; it’s about standing firm to speak the truth at all times and in times of persecution without fear or favor.

Most of our so-called big men of God who have big churches and large congregations failed this test in Nigeria today.

They were all silent when Christians were being killed; only a few of them had the bold mind to speak out or call for help for Nigerian Christians.

Some of them even deny the truth and faith due to political reasons or personal gain and they may not want to speak against, when the Word of God admonished us to “defend the truth” according to the Bible passages(1 Corth 16:13, Eph 6:13 , Phil 4:1.)

To me, in Nigeria today, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo from Jos, Plateau State, stands out just like John the Baptist, the Voice in the Wilderness.

There will be surprises on the last day, according to James 1:12,1Pet 5:8-9, Jud 1:3,1 Pet 3:15 .

The truth is that it’s not how big, popular, and influential your church is that will save you and your members to make heaven, as the Scripture cannot be broken.

It took the voice of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo from Plateau State, a not-too-popular pastor, a voice crying in the wilderness, like that of John the Baptist, to reach the Western people, especially that of US President Donald Trump, on the killing of Christians in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria. Despite having popular and influential men of God in Nigeria who could have spoken out, many of them kept mute in times like this for personal reasons known to them.

Although I may not have seen or met Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo in person, I took time to watch his videos online, and I saw real passion for Christ and his courage despite the persecutions in the northern part of Nigeria.

The truth is that I once lived in the northern part of Nigeria, and I can tell you for free what Christians face in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Let’s be honest with ourselves and say the truth. Let’s stop twisting the information with facts. Are we not in this country, Nigeria, when a woman was killed in Abuja just because of early morning preaching?
You can Google that. So when Christians cry out that they are being massacred because of their faith, don’t let us quickly change the narrative.

Christians are being targeted in the name of religion. It’s a statement of fact that no Christian has ever killed a Muslim or any other religion’s members in this country in the name of Jesus Christ, but how many times have we seen mobs shouting “Allahu Akbar” while burning churches and murdering innocent people?

From Sokoto to Borno from Plateau to Yobe from Kaduna to Yola, these things happened, and we all know it. Are we not in this country, Nigeria, when Deborah Yakubu was set ablaze in Sokoto state, Northern Part of Nigeria, and some Muslim lawyers still defended their Muslim faith, and nothing came out of it? Is the perpetrator not moving freely in the country today? Can anyone deny this statement with fact ?

Deborah was lynched in broad daylight, and many Muslims, including lawyers, defended her killers.

The Good People of Ondo State cannot forget in a hurry the deadly massacre of Christians right inside the Church Service in Owo in Ondo State,Southern Part of Nigeria, Can anyone also deny this again ? what is the outcome of the mass slaughter in Owo Church ?

Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the Chibok Schoolgirls in 2014, over 270 schoolgirls, mostly Christian, were abducted from Chibok, Borno State. Many were forced to convert to Islam, and some were sold into slavery or married off to militants.

As of 2024, 82 girls are still missing.

Can anyone deny the case of Leah Sharibu? A 15-year-old Christian schoolgirl who was abducted in 2018 from Dapchi, Yobe State.

Leah Sharibu refused to convert to Islam and has been held captive for over six years, turning 21 in captivity.

These are statements of fact that no one can deny. The truth is that Nigeria has lost its moral compass. Instead of defending justice, we defended evil because the victim was a Christian, and the killers were Muslims; these are statements of fact that cannot be twisted. That’s why the world will no longer take us serious.

I remembered my personal scenario many years ago in Dutse in Jigawa State; Christians are always afraid to go to Church, especially when you are from the southern part of Nigeria, as anything can happen at any time, even on our Passing Out Parade in Yola, Adamawa State, some narrowly escaped when some rushed to the Barracks, and we still claim we are in the same country ?

We must tell ourselves the bitter truth in Nigeria. Every reasonable Nigerians must openly condemn these evil perpetrators with the same energy they used to defend these evil bloodsuckers. The Nigerian Government must come alive to their responsibilities to safeguard lives and properties and if they can’t, let the Nigerian Government call for help as our lives matters .

Kindly note that every time you justify or stay silent, you’re empowering those who destroy our image and faith. Let’s stop being hypocritical. This isn’t about defending religion; it’s about saving our humanity. It’s true Islam means peace, but too many people have turned it into a weapon. We must unite Muslims and Christians against these killers who have hijacked our dear country, Nigeria. Enough is enough, as we can no longer keep quiet and look away.