The “CHAIN” of Genocide and the Underlying Communal Issues
by
Citizen Bolaji O. Akinyemi
“I will give it into the hands of strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.” — Ezekiel 7:21–23 (KJV)
There are nights when sleep becomes a stranger — not by choice nor because of noise, but because of the silence of those who should speak. My heart is heavy, not merely as a citizen, but as a human being, watching the slow, deliberate bleeding of a people while those entrusted with power trade empathy for excuses. And those who do speak, too often trade in words — speaking from both sides of the mouth — while the underlying communal issues remain unattended to.
The tragedy unfolding across Nigeria, with greater intensity in some parts, is not an accident of fate; it is a failure of governance, of conscience, and of courage. We cannot continue to call it “clashes” when it is genocide, nor baptize bloodshed with bureaucratic jargons of “climate change”. Truth must not be buried under political convenience by ‘war of words’.
If we have learned anything from history, it is that denial never saves a nation — it only delays its redemption or even risk its disintegration. The government’s duty is not to defend its image by press releases but, principally, by the quality of its service delivery in defense of its citizens. And when a state becomes deaf to the cries of the dying, it risks losing not only its legitimacy, but its very soul.
I am deeply worried — not just about the numbers lost, but about the humanity we are losing, and the obvious prophetic judgment spoken forth by the prophetic words of Ezekiel as aforesaid, which now seems to hang ominously over the citizens of Nigeria.
Your Excellency, a Question of Conscience
Your Excellency, the revelation behind your advice to the Governor of Plateau State in April 2025 when Hurti in Bokkos LGA and Zikke in Bassa LGA were attacked was presciently informed by providence, and, indeed by those who wish for your success in your walk and work in life. Regrettably, you backslided from that path when you visited Benue State and diagnosed a similar incident inappropriately as mere “clashes” in the valley of Yelwata.
It is commonly known that Presidents act from intelligence reports placed in their hands by technocrats who sieve information during their leg work afield; Sir, can intelligence reports informing your actions on such incidents be made public henceforth in order to strip it of undue biases?
The effort to drown the truth of genocide has now become a multi-billion-naira enterprise — a “project” sustained by those who trade misinformation cum disinformation for self aggrandisement for our collective misery.
CHAIN: of Freedom or of Bondage?
“The purpose of truth is not to decorate speeches, but to liberate lives.” An honorary ambassador of peace from both divides of Nigeria’s persecuted ethnicities — by faith and by ethnicity — showed me an invitation on his phone. It was from the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), calling its closet members to a roundtable on “Strengthening Synergy Among Faith-Based NGOs for Accurate Reporting on Freedom of Religion and Enhancing Unity” in Nigeria, ostensibly. At that moment, I could not help but raise some piercing questions:
When CHAIN gathers the nation’s conscience-watchers to discuss freedom of religion, shall we be there to analyze the blood of our fellow citizens — or to stop it from flowing? Are they gathering to audit the data of death, or to awaken the duty of life? Will they, in the name of dialogue, polish statistics while our humanity bleeds unpolished?
From Fact-Finding to Faith-Failing
Not after the fact-finding mission of Reno Omokri and his American workman should our national tragedy become a fact-found business. Not after the cries of survivors including children, widows and the aged, should the silence of graves be a reason for symposiums in place of solutions.
We have gone past the question of whether the ongoing spate of gangster killings in Nigeria is genocide. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has already acknowledged that foreigners including American and Canadian lawmakers, sports fans, comedians and many others from diverse works of life have accused our government of; and, I have written in support of that truth in volumes.
Even within the Muslim community, truth has broken the wall of denial; they now admit that senseless killings are ongoing. Some even say they have lost more souls than Christians. Yet, it is curious how such voices are united in muted silence but strident about the tag name of genocide!
It is time to stop arguing over faith-based numbers, and, remember that the dead have no religion. If we all agree there are killings, then the question is no longer “is there genocide?” The question now is: should there be killings at all?
Beyond Data, Toward Deliverance
The CHAIN roundtable must not become another intellectual strand tying Nigeria to the unpleasant reality of settler colonialism and supremacy of ethnic power struggle. Let it become the breaking chain of conscience and collaboration — where faith-based NGOs cease to be mere recorders of tragedy and rise as reformers of destiny.
Every speaker must not speak from data alone, but from the heart of the people, substantiating our realities with data. Every graph must find a grieving family behind it. Every statistic must echo a silenced name.
The Chain We Must Choose
CHAIN stands for Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria — but in this defining hour, it could either become: a Chain of Freedom, binding our faiths together for peace; or a Chain of Bondage, looping us into an endless cycle of discussions without deliverance. So, which chain shall be forged when the closet members of the group meet in Abuja? Let them act unity rather than talk about it. Let them not trade data of despair but deliver deeds of hope. Let the roundtable not be the end of voices wisdom, but the beginning of victory over fear, hate, and silence.
A Call to Partnership
If the killings are wrong, then both Government and Faiths must unite to make them impossible. If peace is sacred, then both Church and Mosque must become partners in public safety. And if truth still matters, then this meeting must not end with applause, but with an action plan — one that changes the headlines from massacre to mercy, from religion of blood to religion of brotherhood. Let CHAIN not become a collar around our necks. Let it become the link of liberation — a chain of truth, unity, and national rebirth.
But alas, the ambassador who shared the meeting itinerary with me counseled me not to publishing this message; he urged me to attend the roundtable and make my contributions instead. I went to the venue and was bluntly told the meeting was not open to the public.
Not even my name, my labour in the Apostolic, nor my work as Convener of the Apostolic Round Table and Founder of Project Victory Call Initiative (PVC-Naija), could secure an emergency seat — like proverbial Saul, I was found outside the circle of the invited ‘elders of Israel’.
The Unholy Chain of Power Games
Your Excellency, there is an unending chain of evil power games that must be broken for a new Nigeria to emerge — a chain forged by those who trade in the miseries of citizens: those in government who crave slices of the security vote, and those outside who partner with them to sustain the enterprise. For instance, your Adviser Barr. Daniel Bwala’s visit to CAN, his media theatrics that followed, CAN’s reaction, and now this CHAIN roundtable — all seem connected in the orchestration of confusion. Then came Bishop Kukah’s lethargic misfire in Rome — a sermon that may have been well-intentioned but poorly timed and misdirected.
A Confession from the Other Side
Sheikh Imam Munir Adam Koza revealed in a viral video: “I was invited to a meeting — surprisingly, it was a meeting of those saddled with the responsibility of handling security. They invited us, young clerics whose voices are influential. We were many, gathered in a state in this country. They asked us to tell the world that these Fulani — the terrorists in the forests — took up arms because they were being oppressed. Therefore, they should not be blamed. We were told to orient the society in that line. Secondly, we should keep calling on government to make peace with them and even give their leaders appointments.”
Sir, is CHAIN part of this wider agenda — an attempt to orientate “the society” to paint genocide in acceptable colours? In this regard, I will not question Kukah’s concern in Rome; I will only express my concern about his concern.
Defining ‘Concern’
“Concern” has many shades of meaning: worry or anxiety — an unease about something; interest or care — a sense of responsibility toward an issue; issue or problem — a matter needing resolution; regard or consideration — thoughtful attention to someone or something. In essence, a concern is already a concern, whether designated officially or not. Thus, America — as a member of the global community — has every right to express concern over Nigeria’s crisis.
But, Your Excellency, your concern must be the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — over whom you are President and Commander-in-Chief. The head of a government whose primary duty is the security of lives and property. Does it really matter what the world calls it? Invest yourself in fixing the problem, and the world will call it by a new name.
Breaking the Chain: The Path Forward
What the Government Must Do; Stop denying what is evident, Publish the truth of intelligence reports and take transparent actions, Disarm and prosecute the perpetrators rather than pacify them with appointments, Engage victims’ communities with justice-driven reconstruction, not token relief.
What the Victims’ Communities Must Do
Refuse the temptation of retaliation, Unite across faiths and tongues to build common defense through lawful means, Turn their agony or hurt into a platform for policy, not vengeance.
What Christians Must Do
Speak truth to power without political bias, Return the Church to the frontline of peacebuilding, not denominational politicking, Let the gospel become a shield for the weak, not a slogan for the strong.
What Muslims Must Do
Amplify voices of conscience like Imam Munir’s, Reject manipulation by political clerics and reclaim Islam’s peace heritage, Join in rebuilding communities torn apart by those who hijack their faith.
What We All Must Do as Nigerians
Break the chain of silence, suspicion, and selfishness; Stand together for justice that heals, not hate that divides; Let truth roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Conclusion
We are a nation in chains — chains forged by deceit, denial, and deliberate delay. But no chain is eternal. When leaders choose truth over comfort, when citizens choose courage over fear, when faith communities choose compassion over convenience — then shall Nigeria break free. The hour is late, the blood is real, the pain is deep — but redemption is still possible. Let this be the last chain we bear, and the first we break. I rest my case — for now.
Citizen Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. The Convener, Apostolic Round Table, Founder Project Victory Call Initiative AKA PVC Naija. He is also the initiator of A Nite 4 Naija, the biggest public stewardship rewarding system in Nigeria. An Apostolic and Prophetic Scribe who writes and speaks without fear or favour.
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bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com
