I’m sure that you will have been following the news about Nigeria and the reported genocide against Christians which led to President Trump recently ordering military action against ISIS in northern Nigeria. I’ve written about the situation here.
Well, Evangelicals Now have shared this report about a US missionary, Rachel Wenger who has offered a different perspective. According to EN,
“Wenger, who has lived in rural Nigeria for almost 30 years, has claimed that accusations of Islamist genocide against Christians are “false and dangerous”, and that the conflict is “more ethnic than religious”.
She also argues that:
Fulani herders are often misrepresented as terrorists, when many are innocent families targeted by brutal attacks in a farmer-herder conflict fuelled by several factors, including a lack of resources, drug abuse, ineffective authority structures and inflammatory social media rhetoric.
And suggests that:
“ horrific religious attacks against Christians do occur, she claimed that Christians attack Muslims in similarly barbaric fashion, but that such attacks often go unreported due to Christians benefitting from greater access to Western media contacts compared to their Islamic counterparts.”
Wenger’s commentary seems to clash with what we’ve heard reported, not just through reputable mission organisations such as Open Doors but first hand from Nigerian Christians. As well as having Nigerian Christians in our church, I’ve recently had the opportunity to meet with Nigerian pastors recently. They were very clear that yes, there is a genocide targeting Christians and that yes there is a significant religious dimension. They were clear that this was not merely a case of ethnic/tribal disputes though there are tribal dimensions to what is happening.
So, what are we to make of this? I think the answer is two-fold. First of all, we need to recognise that there will be different perspectives on what is going on in Nigeria. It is important therefore that we hear the voices of eye witnesses such as Wenger. I presume that she is working amongst the Fulani and she will have first hand experience of what some of those communities are experiencing. She will want to advocate for those she is seeking to reach. It is possible and not surprising that ethnic tensions may exist and that Fulani will be on the receiving end from time to time.
However, we need to also be cautious. Id Wenger in a position to comment about all that is happening in terms of organised militias even within the Fulani people. That she may not see some things and does see others does not mean that the things she is not in a position to observe are not happening.
We also need to hear the voices of other eye witnesses. I am concerned that her report has been shared in a manner that seeks to dismiss and question the voices of others, particularly indigenous Nigerians in order for her perspective to be elevated. Ona general point, this is an unhealthy way to engage.
The other factor that we have to remember is that Nigeria is a large country with a population of over 200 million. The Fulani account for about 20 million of that population. We need to remember that it is possible in a large, populus context for things to look very different from place to place, community to community. I remember being in Cairo in the middle of the Arab Spring. There could be demonstrations, violence and danger in one part of a city of 50 million making it unsafe to go to whilst the little bit of Cairo where I was staying was peaceful bar the occasional distant sounds of gunfire in the distance on one occasion. The political situation in Nigeria is complex with a number of internal conflicts occurring. The situation with Fulani herdsmen should not be confused with the situation concerning Boko Haram.
Finally, even the situation with regards to Christians and Muslims is complex. It is not so simple as to suggest that it is solely Christians being targeted for their faith. Many Christians may be nominal and that may align with ethnic loyalties. It seems too from reports that Islamists do not just target Christians. Their aim is not so much or merely to eradicate Christianity as to eradict all opposition to their own agenda. Those who adhere to tribal religions and Muslims who do not subscribe to the Islamist agenda are as much at risk.
In conclusion
- We should listen to missionaries like Wenger who offer a different perspective but we need to be aware of how perspectives work.
- We should also listen to the evidence provided in terms of objective data particularly from trusted agencies such as Open Doors.
- We should prioritise the witness of indigenous Nigerians.
Faithroots 