All about Whole Truth Nigeria!
Updated: Sep 9
What can you tell us about Whole Truth Nigeria?
Our official description is:
Whole Truth Nigeria is a small multi-denominational group of Nigerians from different tribes and missionaries from different countries and organisations who have been living and working full time for decades in the middle belt and north of Nigeria. We have a particular heart to help those who are misrepresented in the English speaking press. We do not condone violence by any ethnic group or against any ethnic group. We are concerned about the rise in ethnic hatred and that attacks, kidnappings and devastation to life, animals and property goes largely unreported and undocumented depending on the ethnicity of the victims.
Can you tell us more about your team?
Most of us have been living in Nigeria for 30 years or more, some of us all our lives! So we have a lot of experience from day to day living in Nigeria rather than just in and out quick visits or short term mission trips. Between us we also speak multiple Nigerian languages so we don’t need to rely on translators all the time but can hear directly from a a wide variety of local people.
These experiences and skills mean that we can gain a broad understanding of what is happening in Nigeria.
Who is paying you to do this work?
No one pays us. We are all volunteers, we are not sponsored by anyone but we do this work in our free time using our own resources because we are so concerned about what we are witnessing.
Why are you concerned about how the media in the West writes about Nigeria?
While we appreciate that some stories are being told and people are praying for Nigeria, we are very concerned that only some people’s voices are being heard, namely Christians who can communicate in English. But there are many millions of Nigerians beyond that category and they are suffering too! We want to raise awareness of their stories.
You are Christians but you want to talk about Muslims suffering too?
Yes! True Christianity loves everyone and cares about the suffering of all people. Christians living like Christ should make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of their religion.
But why should the suffering of Muslims or atheists matter to Christians?
Because it matters to God! Jesus reached out to everyone he met and cares for all people. The Bible teaches us that everyone is made in the image of God and we need to care for them all, not just Christians.
Why does this matter for Christians in the West?
Nigeria has come to the focus of Western media and political attention. Strategic decisions are being made that will affect the lives of Nigerian citizens. It is vital that those making these decisions have the full story and are making plans based on the whole truth, not just part of it.
Why do you write and speak a lot about the Fulani people?
We advocate for peace and security for all Nigerian citizens regardless of ethnicity and religion but we are particularly concerned about the Fulani people as they are regularly demonised in the media. We know that a small number of people from the Fulani ethnic group have committed atrocities, we do not condone them and we speak against them. But we wonder why attacks perpetrated by Fulani are shared in the news but the attacks that militia groups from other ethnic groups commit hardly get a mention.
For example, this article tells of 45 Muslim Fulani families that are homeless because their houses were destroyed and looted by "Christian" Mwaghavul militia. Did this story get reported in the west? Did the church come to help and support? Were Western Christians asked to pray for them? No. But, surely as Christians, we believe that all lives are important and that we should love and care for everyone. But for some reason, the media makes villains of the Fulani, conveniently forgetting to report that they also suffer. For some reason Fulani militia are often spoken about in the Western media, but not militia from Christian groups. This is what we mean by unbalanced reporting.
Are the Fulani not a jihadist militia group like Boko Haram?
No! Boko Haram is a religious extremist group with ideology similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Fulani are a people group of c15 million men, women and children, but the way they are written about in the media makes people believe they are a jihadist militia group. They are not. But there seems to be some kind of media campaign against them. For example, Boko Haram are mostly made up of one ethnic group, but that ethnic group are not mentioned repeatedly in the media the same way the Fulani people are.
Do other ethnic groups have militia groups?
Yes! Every ethnic group has militia groups, including ethnic groups that are traditionally Christian, but the attacks that they do somehow get left out of the stories told in the west. It is not fair or just reporting, it is unethical ethnic profiling.
Are the Fulani suffering too?
Yes! Everyone talks about the persecution of Christians but neglects to mention that Fulani are also suffering many attacks, including from the militia groups from Christian tribes are constantly attacking the Fulani, destroying their homes, killing men, women and children as well as destroying their livelihood by poisoning and killing their cows. Many Fulani do not speak English so their voice does not get heard in the west. Ethical reporting involves telling the whole truth.
What would you like to see change in the way the media talk about Nigeria?
This is our official statement:
WHOLE TRUTH NIGERIA longs for
ALL voices to be heard:
Christian and Muslim, farmer and herder,
English speaking and non-English speaking
ALL people to know justice:
farmers and herders,
Christians and Muslims
ALL violence to be condemned,
including the many violent attacks done by “Christian” communities
against Fulani, their homes and their animals (i.e. their livelihood) so that
ALL people can live in peace and harmony
So you would like to see every ethnic militia group treated the same?
Yes. It is ethical and accurate and Christian to report the whole truth. Telling just part of the story creates a false and unbalanced narrative. When we look at the whole story we see there is a cycle of violence that affects everyone, not just Christians.
But doesn’t the data say that the Fulani are doing all the killing?
The data is incomplete. We have lists of attacks done on Fulani that do not reach the official lists of data that are being used for analysis. The attacks we share have photos, media links, names etc to help with verification. But for some reason those compiling the lists do not seem to want to include the attacks suffered by the Fulani people. If they included all the attacks, the data would show that everyone is suffering, not just Christians.
How can readers help share the whole truth about what is happening in Nigeria?
Listen carefully to reports and stories that you hear. Note the attitude of the speaker/writer. Even if you do not know the full facts of the situation in Nigeria, you can still use your knowledge of the Bible to discern their attitude. Ask yourself, how does this person speak about those who have attacked them? Are they reaching out in love or hate? Are their words bringing peace or inciting violence? Are they just talking about one ethnic group or one religion or are they expressing God’s heart of love and concern for all Nigerians?
Where can we find out more information about the whole truth of what is happening in Nigeria?
We have a regular blog on our website and we also are active on X, Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube and Truth Social. We’d love to see you there!
Our team are also available for calls, presentations and to write or co-author articles.
Do also take a look at our Nigerian Voices for Peace page where you will find interviews and articles with other Nigerians who are also advocating for peace for everyone in Nigeria, from every ethnic group and every religion.
If you have more questions for the Whole Truth Nigeria team, write them below and we’ll address them next time.
You can also email us at wholetruthnigeria@gmail.com or contact us via our socials.
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