Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticized claims that Christians are not being killed in Nigeria, calling such statements “insensitive and cruel” and describing the notion that “we bury empty coffins” as a “monstrous mendacity.”
In a now-deleted post on his official X handle, Fani-Kayode stated, “Christians are targeted and killed in large numbers in Nigeria,” adding that anyone who denies this reality, downplays it, or claims otherwise is “a perfidious and specious liar.”
He clarified that Muslims are also victims, saying, “What must be clearly understood, however, is that Muslims are also targeted and killed by the same Islamist terrorists in equal numbers.”
Fani-Kayode emphasized that terrorists are indiscriminate in their attacks, targeting both Christians and Muslims, and insisted that “something needs to be done about it.”
The former minister cited recent incidents to illustrate his point: the 25 girls and their Principal abducted from a school in Kebbi State, whose Vice Principal was killed, were Muslims, not Christians.
Similarly, the 64 people abducted in Zamfara State on Saturday, three of whom were killed, were also Muslims.
Conversely, the 12 girls abducted in Kaduna State two days ago were Christians, and soldiers killed in Borno State were both Christians and Muslims.
Fani-Kayode noted, “The terrorists that commit these heinous crimes and atrocities and that indulge in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of our people do not care about the faith of their victims and do not represent any faith.”
“They do not see or care about religion. They only care about the spilling of the innocent blood and abduction of our people.”
“They only care about terrorising innocent civilians, indulging in barbaric carnage and in mass murdering both Christians and Muslims, occupying their land and stealing and pillaging their resources.”
Describing the perpetrators as “beasts,” Fani-Kayode said they must never be granted amnesty.
“I strongly reject the suggestion by some that they should. There is too much blood on their hands for that. There can be no peace or mercy for the wicked. God may forgive them, but we must not.”
He added, “They are evil, they have sold their bodies, spirits and souls to satan, and they are not worthy of life.”
“There is only one answer for them and that is for the Federal Government and Armed Forces to muster the courage, means, resources and firm resolve to crush them ruthlessly and send them back to hell.”
“That is the answer and not to spin the whole thing into a Christian versus Muslim narrative or to support the reckless idea of an American invasion, which would make matters even worse and which would only swell the ranks of the terrorists.”
Fani-Kayode also urged Nigerians to pray for the country, warning that external forces seek to divide and destroy it.
“Nigeria must not be turned into Congo, Somalia, Darfur, Gaza, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria or any other war-torn and decimated failed state. Nigeria must not be used as an arena or battleground for a proxy war for mineral resources between the superpowers.”
“Nigeria must not be turned into yet another pitiful, pathetic and sorry victim of foreign forces and interests and western imperialism. We must remain united, strong and focused, and we must stand shoulder to shoulder and confront the common enemy together.”
He called for support for the government’s efforts, saying, “Finally, we must support the Federal Government in its efforts to put an end to the madness that has been unleashed on our people.”
