The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) should immediately launch an independent investigation into the alleged ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria, a coalition of over 50 Christian Groups under the aegis of Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN), said on Thursday.
They alleged that the scale and pattern of killings in parts of Nigeria meet the international definition of genocide under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Rome Statute of the ICC.
Members of the coalition include Middle Belt Voice, National Christian Elders Forum, National Prayer Alter, Apostolic Round Table, Stefanos Foundation, Lay Faithful Trust and Foundation.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump had raised concern over killings of Christian in Nigeria, warning that the US would intervene if the killings of Christians should continue, and allegation repeatedly dismissed and denied by the Nigerian government.
But speaking on behalf of the coalition at a press conference, the Convener of Christian Social Movement of Nigeria, Bosun Emmanuel, called on the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct an independent probe to ascertain their claims.
He cited provisions of the Genocide Convention and the global “Responsibility to Protect” framework to back up the demand.
The coalition maintained that the international community, particularly the UN and ICC have both the authority and obligation to intervene in situations of mass atrocities.
Emmanuel said, “We humbly express our most sincere appreciation to the enviable President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, for his kind and timely intervention in Nigeria to help put a stop to the on-going Genocide against Christians.
“We totally affirm our unreserved support to whatever means or policy he deems necessary in achieving his divinely inspired objective in Nigeria.
“Second, amid repeated denials of Christian Genocide in Nigeria, it is our position that the most effective way of proving the veracity of Christian genocide in Nigeria is by the intervention of the appropriate organs of the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) tasked with proving the truth about Genocide and Crimes against Humanity.”
According to him, denials by some government officials, religious leaders and regional bodies do not invalidate the claims of targeted attacks.
Emmanuel argued that the responsibility to determine whether genocide has occurred rests with international investigators and not with local actors with vested interests.
The movement also backed the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States, saying foreign intervention has become necessary due to the government’s alleged failure to protect vulnerable communities.
The Christian group criticised the African Union (AU) and some Muslim organisations including the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and others denying Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Emmanuel continued, “What constitutes the crime of Genocide in International Criminal Law is well spelt out in Article II of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, ratified by UN General Assembly resolution 260 A (III) of 9th December 1948.
“Similarly, Part 2, Article 6 of the 17th July 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court clearly stipulates what constitute Genocide. It is therefore laughable that some people would think that the mere denial of what constitutes Genocide translates to its non-occurrence with Christians in Nigeria.
“Genocide is a crime recognized by International law as afore cited and, thus, its occurrence can only be established by statutory international investigators empowered by the aforesaid exacting laws; and not by rented official mercenaries and crowds of unscrupulous agent provocateurs.
“We therefore hereby request the United Nations Security Council in conjunction with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately send a team of investigators to ascertain the veracity of Christian Genocide in Nigeria.”
