Justine Dyikuk
The Christmas Day deadly strike on Islamic State terrorists in Sokoto state (which borders Niger to the north) by the United States’ Africa Command in coordination with Nigerian authorities led to the death of “multiple ISIS terrorists,” who, President Donald Trump said, were “targeting and viciously killing, primarily innocent Christians”. This incident has once again brought to the fore the plight of Christians in Nigeria. The US Department of State’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over claims of Christian genocide has sparked widespread debate. Social media is filled with distressing images of burnt Churches and mass burial sites linked to attacks by Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP), and Fulani militants. Trump’s signature comment, “guns a-blazing,” unsettled the Nigerian government amid these alarming issues.
Understanding what really constitutes genocide is essential for critically examining this controversy. Under international law, genocide is characterized by two main elements: the mental element of specific intent (dolus specialis in legal terms) and the physical component of committing one of five prohibited acts against a protected group. The mental aspect involves the intent “to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group,” often expressed through specific policies or propaganda.
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