The internecine killing in Nigeria has been confirmed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as genocide targeted at Christians, particularly those in Northern Nigeria.
CAN’s national leadership, on Wednesday, in a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said it acknowledged government and security agencies’ efforts in tackling national security challenges, while equally urging that perpetrators of violence be brought to justice swiftly.
Clarifying its stance on the recent conversations on faith, violence and insecurity, the religious body affirmed “that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship.’’
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The association noted that security lapses in the country have remained painful realities and reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region.
“Over the years, CAN and the wider Christian community have worked tirelessly to draw attention, both nationally and internationally, to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Decrying how its cries for justice and protection are often met with delay or denial, the association outlined national and international efforts it has undertaken, but without a way forward.
“The Association has established mechanisms for recording incidents of religiously motivated killings, engaged with international partners, written to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and hosted global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement,” the Christian body stated.
Bidding for courage in the face of the enduring insecurity crisis, the association stressed that Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from the courage to face collective failures, to grieve together and to rebuild trust within the citizens’ circles.
Highlighting its demand, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called “on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.”
The association also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to redouble its efforts towards providing equitable protection of life for all citizens.
Mr Okoh said, “We also appeal to all Christian leaders to continue to speak and act with wisdom, unity, and faith, knowing that peace is too fragile to be taken for granted.”
Earlier, a post on X by United States Republican Senator, Ted Cruz, had accused the Nigerian leaders of being complicit in the matter of insecurity.
“Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred, and over 20,000 churches and Christian schools have been destroyed. These atrocities are directly linked to the policies of Nigerian federal and state officials,” Mr Cruz tweeted.
“They are the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times – and it says a great deal about who is lashing out now that a light is being shone on these issues,” he added.
