The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a forceful appeal to federal and state authorities, warning that renewed wave of attacks targeting Christian communities across the country are spiralling dangerously out of control.
In a public statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN declared that the ongoing violence constitutes a direct threat to religious freedom and the security of vulnerable populations.
Surge in Deaths, Displacement, and Church Destruction
The CAN communiqué paints a distressing picture: numerous Christian communities—especially in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt states—have experienced killings, displacement, and the razing of places of worship.
According to CAN, many of these incidents are underreported or met with delayed responses by security agencies.
The association stressed that its longstanding efforts to document and protest such attacks — including appeals to international Christian bodies, communications to the International Criminal Court, and internal monitoring systems — have so far failed to yield the level of protection victims urgently need.
“Too often, these cries for justice are met with delay or denial,” the statement lamented, adding that the suffering of affected Christian families must not be allowed to fade into statistics.
Calls for Urgent, Transparent Action
CAN’s plea to the government is uncompromising: it demands urgent, transparent, and equitable measures to:
1. Protect Christian communities under threat
2. Prosecute perpetrators without bias
3. Reinstate public confidence in state security mechanisms
Archbishop Okoh warned that national healing cannot flourish on a foundation of denial or selective silence. “Persecution must not be politicized,” he said, urging leaders to stand on the side of justice, empathy, and unity.
Global Spotlight and Diplomatic Pressure
CAN’s statement arrives amid growing international scrutiny. In the U.S., Congressman Riley M. Moore penned a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the re-designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. Citing data that claims over 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025, Moore described Nigeria as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”
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However, Nigeria’s federal government has rejected the narrative of targeted religious violence.
In a forceful rebuttal, the government’s spokesman accused foreign commentators of spreading “reckless, misleading discourse” that exacerbates tensions and undermines national efforts against terrorism.
The Human Cost: Lives and Communities at Stake
In communities across states like Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, and Plateau, the consequences are stark. Entire villages have emptied as terrified residents flee to forest camps or neighboring towns.
Churches, mission houses, and school buildings lie in ruins. Survivors recount nights of gunfire, the branding of Christian symbols, and sudden raids that leave little time for escape.
One particularly brutal episode — the Yelwata massacre in June 2025 — reportedly killed between 100 and 200 Christians and displaced thousands.
Analysts suggest these attacks are not random but strategic, leveraging fear and the fracture of communal ties to undermine Christian presence in sensitive regions.
Christian leaders are also calling for continued unity, prayer, and vigilance. Some churches have already altered service times or moved smaller gatherings into private homes to reduce visibility.
CAN’s renewed appeal represents more than a religious plea—it is a challenge to the Nigerian state and global faith communities: can the nation protect its citizens equally, regardless of creed?
