The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised a serious alarm over what it described as ongoing genocide against Christian communities across the country.
The body urged President Bola Tinubu to confront the situation with truth, urgency, and compassion rather than reducing the loss of lives to mere statistics.
In a statement signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN, the association expressed deep concern over persistent attacks targeting Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria. It emphasized that the government must act decisively to end the violence and ensure justice for victims.
“CAN affirms, without hesitation, 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,” Okoh stated. “These painful realities serve as reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region or creed.”
The statement lamented that countless Christian communities have been devastated by violence, with churches and homes destroyed, and families displaced. CAN urged the Tinubu administration not to treat these tragedies as numbers but as human lives deserving justice and protection.
The association revealed that it has been documenting incidents of religiously motivated violence and has reached out to international partners to draw global attention to the crisis. Among its actions are petitions to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and collaborations with global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement.
“These efforts demonstrate CAN’s advocacy for justice, peace, and the protection of Christian communities under threat,” the statement added.
While acknowledging the government’s broader efforts to tackle insecurity, CAN criticised the slow or inadequate response to cases involving religiously targeted violence. It called for urgent, transparent, and equitable measures to stop the killings, prosecute offenders, and restore peace in affected communities.
CAN reiterated its commitment to promoting peace and unity but insisted that genuine reconciliation must begin with truth, justice, and accountability.
