Kwara Killings are Genocide, Not Religious War — Fani-Kayode Raises Alarm
Former Minister of Aviation and ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described the recent killings in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State as an act of genocide rather than a religious conflict.
He said the attacks, which reportedly claimed the lives of over 160 Nigerians, were not targeted at any single faith.
According to him, both Christians and Muslims were victims of the violence, making it clear that religion was not the motive behind the bloodshed.
Fani-Kayode warned that those responsible for the killings were not driven by any religious belief. He described them as ruthless criminals who came from outside Nigeria with the sole aim of causing destruction and fear.
Speaking via a post on X on Thursday, the former minister condemned the killings in strong terms and expressed sympathy with the people of Kwara State and the state government.
He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for responding quickly by ordering the deployment of troops to the affected area. Fani-Kayode said the action was necessary to prevent further loss of lives and to restore calm in the community.
He further called on the Federal Government to go beyond temporary security measures by establishing a permanent military base in that part of Kwara State. According to him, a lasting security presence is needed to stop future attacks and protect vulnerable communities.
Fani-Kayode also raised concerns about alleged internal collaborators. He claimed that some individuals within the country were aiding the attackers while using politics to undermine the efforts of both the state and federal authorities.
In his words:
“The massacre of over 160 innocent Nigerians in Kaiama LGA Kwara state is shocking and condemnable. My heart goes out to Governor Rahman Abdul Razaq and the people of Kwara.
“I am fully aware of the efforts that they are making in the state to curb this terrible menace and it is unfortunate that some internal collaborators are assisting these murderers and are playing politics with the whole situation in an attempt to discredit and rubbish the efforts of both the state and Federal Government.
“I thank @officialABAT for ordering the swift deployment of troops to the area and I urge the FG to establish a permanent base for the military in that part of the state.
“It is clear that those behind these acts of barbarism and genocide are targetting both Christians and Muslims and this is unacceptable. The killers were not men of any faith but were simply bloodthirsty barbarians from a foreign land.
“This is an attack on our fatherland and our people and we must all rise up, join our hands together, support both the state and Federal Government and collectively resist it. May the souls of those that were brutally murdered rest in peace.”
However, the killings in Kaiama have continued to spark outrage across the country, with many Nigerians calling for stronger security action and accountability.
