Just as the first World Summit In Defense Of Persecuted Christians was held in Washington, D.C., A Nigerian Anglican Bishop speaks out on what he’s calling the decimation of his Diocese by Fulani Muslims. He called the current situation a coordinated assault mostly on Christians and echoing the voices of many persecuted Christians present at the summit, calls it a Christian genocide. 

“Their attacks on us are continuous. Recently militants entered one of our villages and killed 256 of 400 people. They come into their homes without provocation and slaughter them. Recently 42 were burned alive in one of my parishes while the militants screamed ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great). The total head count killed to date is over 1500. It is terrible what they are doing to us. The number increases daily.”

Virtue online reports, that Bishop Dogo spoke movingly of the coordinated assaults on Southern Kaduna villages which, he said, are mostly Christian. “This is nothing more than genocide. The perpetrators are committing crimes against humanity, which include brutal murders. Many of the Fulani are within our borders, but were getting external human and financial capital help from outside the state.”

The Bishop, who is married to a Muslim convert to Christianity, said it was necessary to find a lasting peace in order to avoid another Rwanda (where 800,000 innocent people were hacked to death with machetes by their neighbors) or Kosovo in Nigeria and southern Kaduna.

Bishop Dogo said the attacks began in 2011 when a contest election pitted ethnic and religious groups against one another. He said he sees no immediate end to the killings in Southern Kaduna villages, which are mostly Christian. Since then he has worked as a priest in the rural churches.

During the interview with virtue online Bishop Dogo was asked,

Vol: “How serious is the situation in Northern Nigeria for Anglicans?”

Dogo: “The Kafanchan diocese is in the Province of Abuja involving. We have 112 churches, 72 priests and evangelists. I have been a bishop for 6 years. Boko Haran is further to the north. We are more in the middle belt. Our problem is with the Fulani Muslins who were disguised yes men for Boko Haram. They are spread over three areas from Cameroon to Senegal. They provide cover for Boko Haran.”

He was also asked an estimate number of Anglican Christians killed to what the bishop answered “many”. He went on to list some examples:

Dogo: “Many churches have closed. The Diocese of Madhuri was forced to close down. The bishop died of a heart attack. The Dioceses of Damaturu and Yola were almost closed down because of the persecution. They were not strong mission fields, but they have been held back since 2009.”

One particular answer from Bishop Dogo really brings the reality of the situation to an interesting perspective. He was asked how could any evangelism get done under those circumstances and he answered that most of the evangelism is done through one’s lifestyle. Archbishop Okoh came up with a program which he called “abiding evangelism” among the natives.

Dogo: “If the crisis continues, we will be forced to strategize new ways to reach the indigenous in the north.”

The bishop stated that the Bishop of Canterbury has not shown sympathy or compassion for his people’s plight as a Christian and leader of the Anglican Communion.

Dogo: “He came to see Archbishop Okoh, but they did not talk about anything of real substance. He should be concerned to support the faithful Anglicans who are suffering.”

Voice online also asked there could be a formal separation Canterbury in the future.

Dogo: “It’s not official, but we already have a form of separation. We cannot sit down together. Official or not official, we cannot compromise the Scriptures. We have won the battle.”

Dogo: “The fabric of the Anglican Communion has been torn, but no matter how seriously there is a provision for the ABC to turn, repent and be reconciled. He and the Church of England can turn from what he is doing wrong and repent.”

The bishop’s interview also touched on racism and how prevalent he believes it to be on a worldwide scale. Bishop Dogo emphasized on the need to stand on God’s word regarding all matters. The final question asked during the interview?

 Vol: “Do you see an end to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria?”

Dogo: “It is going to stay for a while, but it is going to end one day. Alive or dead, it will end. Sooner or later, peace will come. In the meantime, we must remain vigilant and preach the gospel even to the enemy.”

Virtue Online article / TRUNEWS contribution.