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Christian Genocide: When K1llers Chant ‘God Is Great’ You Can’t Say Religion Is Not A Factor: Ogebe
Christian Genocide: When K1llers Chant ‘God Is Great’ You Can’t Say Religion Is Not A Factor: Ogebe
Christian Genocide: When k1llers chant ‘God is great’ you can’t say religion is not a factor: Ogebe. International human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe has stated that the wave of mass killings in Nigeria has a precise religious dimension, arguing that attacks accompanied by chants of “God is great” in Arabic were beyond ordinary communal violence.
Speaking on ARISE News Prime Time on Monday, Ogebe warned that the patterns of violence in the Middle Belt and parts of northern Nigeria reflect systematic and targeted assaults on communities identified by faith.
“There’s no doubt that there is collateral damage. But the fact of the matter is, in the US a couple of weeks ago, a National Guardswoman was shot in the head by a guy screaming ‘God is great’ in Arabic. The people who killed Alice’s family were screaming, ‘God is great’. You cannot look at both situations and say religion was not a factor,” he said.
According to him, the attacks followed identifiable patterns. “These folks are very systematic because they look at the communities that they are certain fall within a certain identity and they target them,” Ogebe added.
Reacting to United States President Donald Trump’s renewed designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged Christian persecution, the lawyer said the decision was justified and overdue.
“The designation is justified and has been justified for many years. The commission that made the recommendation began making recommendations, I think, in 2009. For about 15 years, they’ve been recommending, and it’s only happened twice,” he stated.
Ogebe recalled that similar action should have been taken after the 2000 Shariah riots. “By the year 2000, we had the Shariah riots in northern Nigeria that killed 3,000 Christians across four states. At that time, they should have recommended Nigeria for designation,” he said.
Describing his experience documenting atrocities over the years, Ogebe said the scale of killings has been devastating. “It’s very depressing work. None of us would have anticipated that Nigerians would be dying in droves like they are now,” he noted.
He cited recent incidents to underscore his point. “On 13 June, there was a massacre in Yelwata. The number of people killed that night — 278 — was more than the people killed in the war between Iran and Israel, in which missiles and aeroplanes were used,” he said.
He also referenced attacks in Plateau State. “That same night, 54 people were slaughtered in ZK, Plateau State… That is what genocide looks like.”
Dismissing arguments that the violence is primarily driven by competition over land, Ogebe said religious ideology remains central. “The message is, let’s go and take out the infidels. So from the very beginning, there’s a religious connotation,” he stated.
He narrated an encounter involving a Fulani herdsman employed by the spouse of a judge, “One day, he came back and said, ‘I nearly killed an idiot infidel today.’ We are saying that judicial officers are frustrated because of the impunity of these people.”
Ogebe also pointed to statements by Boko Haram’s founder. “Mohammed Yusuf preached, and he said, ‘Listen, you are wiping out the infidels.’ He said Yar’Adua flew me on a presidential jet and begged me to stop killing the infidels, and I’m not going to do it,” he said.
On allegations against Fulani ethnic militias, he described the acts he said were intended to instil terror. “One of their hallmarks is, if they meet a pregnant woman on the farm, they will slaughter her, pull out the foetus and butcher it. It doesn’t get more graphic than that,” Ogebe said.
Bandits
He added that displacement has been widespread. “There are over 300 communities in the Middle Belt now that have been sacked and are occupied by Fulani ethnic militias. And I can’t point to one Fulani village that has been occupied,” he said.
Rejecting descriptions of the violence as farmer–herder clashes, Ogebe said, “When you come into a community, and you kill a three-year-old and a four-year-old, a three-year-old cannot clash with you. These are invaders who are coming in and wiping out people on their ancestral lands. It’s not a clash.”
He disclosed that his work with the International Criminal Court had progressed beyond preliminary stages. “After they investigated, they finally indicted not only Boko Haram but the Nigerian Army for atrocities. They have indictments as we speak. It is a lack of political will to proceed — that’s why it hasn’t happened,” he said.
Ogebe also reflected on U.S.–Nigeria relations. “The US and Nigeria have had amazing historic relationships. But right now we’re at a point where there’s a real drift,” he said, warning of a more rigid posture from Washington. “They’re at a point where they’re saying, if you will not protect your own people from being killed, we’ll go ahead and do it ourselves.”
Alleged Impersonation Of EFCC Staff: Defendant Faces Judgment June 15
Justice A. I. Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on Monday, June 1, 2026, slated June 15, 2026 for judgment in the case of criminal impersonation of officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and extortion by one Salifu Olije Mustapha.
At Monday’s proceeding, the EFCC presented its First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Stanley Ujilibo against the defendant.
The witness, an investigator with the EFCC, disclosed that the Commission received intelligence on how the defendant and two others, identified as Haruna Mamuda Adamu and Abubakar Umar Hamisu- who are currently under arrest and investigation by a security agency-on several occasions kitted themselves with fake operational uniforms of EFCC and set out in the defendant’s Toyota Corolla, with registration number KTU-399-GT to extort money from unsuspecting youths around Sherif Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Eereporter.com
He further disclosed that the defendant’s share of the proceeds of their criminal activities is usually paid into his account with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, adding that EFCC’s investigation team had to write Moniepoint for the statement of the defendant’s account as well as his account opening package and certificate of identification.
Documents, including video evidence, recorded by eyewitnesses during one of the gang’s unlawful activities, tendered in evidence by prosecution counsel, R.U. Adagba were admitted by the court and marked Exhibit A to D.
EFCC
On his part, counsel to the defendant, John Ainetor, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him review the evidence and cross-examine the witness.
The defendant is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a four-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation to which he pleaded guilty upon arraignment.
Justice Akobi adjourned the matter till June 15, 2026 for continuation of cross-examination and sentencing of the defendant. Eereporter.com
CAS Joins President Tinubu, Defence Chiefs At Nigerian Navy’s 70th Anniversary Fleet Review
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on 1 June 2026 joined the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs at the International Fleet Review and Commissioning of Ships held at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront, Lagos.
The event formed a major highlight of activities commemorating the Nigerian Navy’s 70th Anniversary and brought together senior military leaders, government officials, international partners and distinguished guests in celebration of the Navy’s enduring contributions to national security and maritime development.
Eereporter.com
In his address, President Tinubu commended the Nigerian Navy for its remarkable achievements over the past seven decades in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting national development.
The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces through sustained investments in modern platforms, infrastructure and human capacity development.
He further emphasised the importance of synergy among the Services in addressing contemporary security challenges and advancing Nigeria’s strategic interests across the air, land and maritime domains.
The participation of Air Marshal Aneke underscored the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment to joint operations and inter-Service cooperation in support of national security objectives.
Nigerian Navy
As a critical component of Nigeria’s military architecture, the NAF continues to provide vital air power capabilities, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air mobility and precision air support, which enhance the effectiveness of joint military operations nationwide.
The occasion further reinforced the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s collective resolve to foster unity of effort, strengthen operational readiness and safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and prosperity.
Eereporter.com
Romance Scam: Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of N17.1m To FG
Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 1, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The forfeited fund, domiciled in Access Bank, is linked to one Ifeanyi Alele David, who is under investigation for alleged romance fraud and related criminal activities by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The judge issued the order, following a motion on notice filed by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Ikoyi, through its counsel, C.C.Okezie.
Eereporter.com
The court had, on February 26, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture order of the fund and directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to enable any interested person or entity to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
While moving the application for the final forfeiture, Okezie informed the court that the Commission complied with the publication order by publishing the interim forfeiture notice in The Punch newspaper on April 10, 2026.
Okezie also stated that no individual or entity came forward within the stipulated period to contest the forfeiture.
She further stated that the application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Samson Aguma, who detailed the findings of the Commission’s investigation.
According to the affidavit, the EFCC received a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, alleging that David was involved in a romance scam scheme connected to the tragic death of a United States of American citizen.
According to him, on September 15, 2021, a romance fraud victim committed suicide in a hotel room in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Following the discovery of her body, law enforcement officers recovered her mobile device and observed multiple messages from an individual identified as “Garry Micheal” through the Google Hangouts application.
Investigations further revealed that the suspect repeatedly solicited funds from the victim under various false pretences, including requests for money to secure his release from prison and facilitate his return to the United States.
The affidavit disclosed that on the day the victim took her own life, the suspect allegedly demanded an additional sum of $60,000 from her, despite her expressing severe financial distress and indicating that she had exhausted her resources.
Further investigations by the FBI allegedly established that the victim sent approximately $154,500
Court
between August 30 and September 13, 2021, through various channels connected to the fraudulent scheme.
Aguma stated that forensic analysis traced email accounts, internet protocol (IP) addresses, telephone records, and an Apple iCloud account linked to the romance fraud activities to David in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the sum of N17,100,595.40 found in David’s Access Bank account was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and formed part of the funds derived from the fraudulent scheme.
After listening to the submissions of the EFCC and reviewing the affidavit evidence before the court, Justice Owoeye held that the application had merit and consequently ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Eereporter.com
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