Reno Omokri Challenges Claims Of Religious Killings While Urging Data Driven Clarity On Nigeria’s Security Concerns

 

A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has firmly rejected suggestions that the violent conflicts occurring across Nigeria, especially in the northern region, stem from religious motives. He argued that the clashes have deep historical roots tied to economic pressures and land competition that existed long before Christianity. Omokri delivered this position during a lecture themed “Speaking Truth to Power in Contemporary Nigeria” at the Oxford African Governance Forum over the weekend.

Strong reactions have followed the decision by former United States President Donald Trump to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”. Trump accused the Nigerian authorities of permitting targeted attacks on Christians and threatened possible military action if the situation did not change. President Bola Tinubu responded by dismissing the designation and insisting his administration protects all Nigerians equally regardless of belief or ethnic background.

Omokri echoed the government’s stance, describing the allegations from the United States as misleading and lacking factual evidence. He challenged Trump and Senator Ted Cruz to identify any Nigerian officials they accuse of enabling violence against Christians, saying such claims must be backed with proof rather than assumptions.

He supported his argument with data from the Global Terrorism Index, highlighting a significant drop in terror related deaths over the past decade. Fatalities declined from nearly seven thousand in 2015 to about five hundred in 2025. He said this sharp reduction contradicts the narrative that terror driven killings are on the rise.

Historical analysis formed a central part of his lecture. Omokri explained that clashes between farmers and herders are largely driven by disputes over access to land and resources. He cited the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom which extended across areas now known as Kebbi and Taraba States, noting that violence over land occurred there long before any religious interpretation existed.

He pointed to colonial era records from 1924 that documented farmer herder tensions at a time when Nigeria’s population was only 18 million. With today’s population surpassing 200 million, Omokri argued that competition for land has naturally intensified, widening the scope of conflict as communities fight for economic survival.

Efforts by successive governments to reduce the clashes were also mentioned. These include Fadama agricultural programmes that support year round farming and the newly established livestock development ministry by the Tinubu administration, aimed at addressing structural issues in the agricultural sector.

A political note emerged as Omokri criticised Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of igniting a misleading narrative of Christian genocide after an appearance before a United States congressional committee. He also faulted Obi for defending the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra even though the group has been officially proscribed as a terrorist organisation and its key figures have faced prosecution or conviction.

Bringing his presentation to a close, Omokri called for a balanced, evidence guided interpretation of Nigeria’s security challenges. He said that transcending religious and ethnic divides is crucial for building a stable and peaceful country. The lecture formed part of the Michael Mas Conference Series hosted by the Oxford African Forum.