The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has, again, raised the alarm over what it describes as systematic and sustained genocide against Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, declaring that the evidence of targeted killings, mass displacements and destruction of settlements could no longer be ignored.
The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the declaration at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the association in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday.
The event, hosted by the Plateau State government, brought together senior church leaders from across the federation.
Addressing the council, Archbishop Okoh said the Christian body “stands unwaveringly” by its long-held position that a Christian genocide was unfolding in Nigeria, stressing that years of coordinated attacks, unpunished massacres, and the forced displacement of indigenous Christian populations fit the pattern of intentional extermination.
He said: “It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired. Lives have been brutally cut short, communities uprooted from their ancestral lands, families torn apart, churches razed, and hopes shattered.
”CAN has spoken clearly and courageously on this matter, and we stand by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria.”
He recalled his recent visit to Bokkos where thousands of Christians remained displaced after waves of violent attacks.
According to him, the physical and emotional scars observed underscored the scale of the tragedy, yet the resilience of the victims reflected the depth of their faith.
“We declare with one united voice: you are not forgotten. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you,” he assured.
The CAN President lamented that in many communities, entire villages had been levelled without justice, even as perpetrators continue to roam free, while victims had neither been compensated nor resettled.
The persistence of killings and kidnappings, he noted, was evidence of a failure that demanded national soul-searching.
He stated further that international institutions had begun to take interest in Nigeria’s prolonged religious violence, a development, he said, was painful but necessary.
“If international attention is what is required to spur decisive governmental action, then the Christian community in Nigeria welcomes it,” he said.
Archbishop Okoh called on the federal government to take immediate steps to stop the ”senseless destruction of lives,” restore security, and ensure justice for persecuted communities.
He emphasised that the prolonged stay of thousands of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in camps was a moral indictment on the nation and a ticking humanitarian time bomb.
The CAN leader said further: “No individual should ever be persecuted or killed on account of their faith. This humanitarian crisis must be addressed decisively to prevent further escalation.
”CAN will not relent. We will continue to demand justice, call for accountability, defend the vulnerable and advocate for peace and unity.”
In his remarks, the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, described the gathering as significant for a state that had endured some of the worst episodes of ethno-religious violence in recent Nigerian history.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring enduring peace, securing rural communities and resettling displaced persons.
Mutfwang praised CAN for its steadfast advocacy and moral guidance, acknowledging the church as a critical partner in rebuilding trust and healing fractured communities.
“Nigeria needs the church now more than ever,” the governor said.
He expressed optimism that the deliberations of the council would strengthen national unity and further equip religious leaders to continue championing justice, reconciliation and moral reorientation.
