The Northern Christian Youths and Leaders Forum (NCYLF) has publicly rejected descriptions of the ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria as “genocide,” following a high-level consultative meeting in Jos, Plateau State. The gathering was organized in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the Christian Pilgrims Commission, represented by Bishop Victor Stephen Adegbite.
At the meeting, NCYLF leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful political engagement, justice, and accountability — insisting that while the violence is real and deeply troubling, it does not meet the legal definition of genocide. Their assessment pushes back against external narratives that frame the violence as part of a systematic and targeted religious extermination.
In making their case, the forum appealed for strengthening of state institutions, reform of local governance, and investment in conflict-resolution mechanisms. They urged Christians in northern Nigeria to participate more actively in civic life rather than rely solely on international attention or reactionary rhetoric.
