The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has petitioned the President of the United States, Joe Biden, over the killing of Christians in Plateau and other states in Nigeria.
Decrying the spates of religious persecution in the country, NADECO observed that no fewer than 300 Christians were killed between 2021 and 2023 in Nigeria, while over 1.5million natives were displaced within the period.
Executive Director of NADECO, in the USA, Dr. Lloyd Ukwu, said this in a statement obtained by Daily Sun.
He said in the petition:
“Dear Mr. President, The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) is troubled by the level of religious persecution going on in Nigeria as evidenced by the Christmas Day Massacre in Plateau State Nigeria.
NADECO wishes to call your attention to the fact that some years back you ordered the removal of Nigeria from the list of countries with religious freedom concerns, just a day before Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Nigeria. The people of Nigeria considered your actions indeed outrageous that the State Department has removed Nigeria as a Country of Special Concern list entirely, not even placing it on the less severe Special Watch List for religious persecution.
“It was of a grave concern to most Nigerians that your administration designated two entities from Nigeria as “Entities of Special Concern” – Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa – but not the Fulani jihadist militias that have been responsible for the majority of the killings of Christians in Nigeria in recent years.
“As you probably know, NADECO (USA), is Nigeria’s premier and foremost pro-democracy group based in Washington DC. NADECO, formed on 15 May 1994 by a broad coalition of Nigerian democrats, called on the military government of Sani Abacha to step down in favour of the winner of the 12 June 1993 election, M.K.O. Abiola. The organization quickly became the symbol of mass resistance against military rule and a target of the military government.
“NADECO, in late 2022 and in early 2023 raised alarm concerning the elections that were scheduled in February 2023. The elections were finally adjudged by Nigerians and International observers to be the worst elections that Nigeria has ever conducted. The so-called winner of the dangerously flawed election, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been condemned by NADECO and numerous International bodies.”
The group alleged that the so-called “Fulanisation” agenda in the country began during the administration of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
