The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly countered the Presidency’s recent dismissal of claims that Christians are facing systemic persecution and targeted killings across the country. According to CAN, the situation has reached a crisis level amounting to what it describes as a “Christian genocide,” urging the Federal Government to address the issue honestly rather than dismiss it as mere propaganda.
This response comes amid renewed national debates over religious tolerance, security failures, and the rising number of attacks on churches and Christian communities in Northern Nigeria and parts of the Middle Belt.
CAN’s Strong Rebuttal to the Presidency
The Presidency, in a statement earlier this week, denied that Christians were being deliberately targeted in Nigeria, describing such allegations as “false narratives designed to create division.”
However, CAN swiftly reacted, stating that the evidence of targeted killings and persecution of Christians is overwhelming and cannot be dismissed.
According to CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, reports from several states — including Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, and Taraba — show consistent patterns of violent attacks on Christian communities by armed groups often described as “unknown gunmen” or “bandits.”
Okoh emphasized that labeling the attackers as bandits instead of calling them out for religiously motivated violence has been the government’s way of avoiding accountability.
“The blood of innocent Christians shed daily across the country cries for justice. To deny this reality is to deepen the wound of those who have lost their loved ones simply for their faith,”
— Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN President
The Reality on Ground: Evidence of Targeted Attacks
CAN cited several reports from both local and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Open Doors International, which have ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians.
Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List placed Nigeria as the sixth deadliest country for Christians globally.
Over 4,000 Christians were reportedly killed in Nigeria in 2023 alone, mostly in rural communities across the North and Middle Belt.
Churches, seminaries, and mission schools have been repeatedly attacked, with priests, pastors, and seminarians abducted or killed.
The association noted that these figures represent not isolated incidents but an ongoing campaign of terror fueled by religious extremism, ethnic conflicts, and weak security responses.
The Presidency’s Stand
In contrast, the Presidency maintains that violence in Nigeria is not religiously motivated but rather the result of banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes. It accused CAN and some Western organizations of “politicizing security issues” to create tension and discredit the government.
A senior presidential aide insisted that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from insecurity, noting that terrorists target citizens indiscriminately.
While this explanation may hold for certain cases, critics argue that it downplays the pattern of selective violence against Christian communities in specific regions where churches and believers are systematically attacked.
Historical Background: Religion and Conflict in Nigeria
Nigeria’s religious fault lines run deep, with Islam dominant in the North and Christianity largely practiced in the South and Middle Belt.
The country’s multi-faith structure has long been strained by mutual distrust, fueled by political manipulation and socio-economic inequality.
From the Maitatsine uprisings of the 1980s to the rise of Boko Haram in the late 2000s, religious violence has cost tens of thousands of lives.
While Boko Haram initially targeted both Christians and Muslims, the group later adopted an explicitly anti-Christian agenda, bombing churches and executing believers who refused to convert.
The more recent wave of violence by so-called “bandits” and “unknown gunmen” follows a similar trend, with increasing attacks on rural Christian villages — suggesting a continuation of religiously targeted aggression under new labels.
CAN’s Demands and Policy Recommendations
CAN has urged the government to take several decisive actions:
1. Recognize the attacks as religiously motivated genocide and stop downplaying the religious dimension of the crisis.
2. Strengthen the security architecture in vulnerable Christian communities across the North and Middle Belt.
3. Bring perpetrators to justice by ensuring transparent investigations and prosecution of known offenders.
4. Promote genuine interfaith dialogue between Muslim and Christian leaders at both national and grassroots levels.
5. Compensate victims’ families and rebuild destroyed churches and communities.
According to CAN, failing to act decisively will only embolden extremists and push Nigeria closer to a full-scale religious war.
International Reactions and Growing Concerns
Several international organizations have echoed CAN’s concerns.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its latest report, criticized the Nigerian government for not doing enough to protect Christians.
It also expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s removal from the U.S. “Special Watch List” of countries engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.
European Union (EU) officials and some Christian advocacy groups in the UK and the U.S. have called for renewed international pressure on Nigeria to address what they describe as “religious cleansing under the cover of insecurity.”
These global reactions highlight the growing perception that Nigeria’s government is either unwilling or unable to protect its Christian citizens.
The Human Cost: Stories of Pain and Resilience
Behind the statistics are heartbreaking human stories.
In Southern Kaduna, villagers recount how armed men invaded their communities, killing dozens and burning churches. Survivors describe watching family members slaughtered while soldiers stationed nearby failed to intervene.
In Plateau State, a pastor recalled how his congregation was attacked during Sunday service. “They came shooting, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’. Many of our people died instantly,” he said tearfully.
Such stories are numerous — and they fuel CAN’s argument that what is happening cannot simply be dismissed as banditry.
Despite the devastation, Christian communities continue to show remarkable resilience — rebuilding their churches, holding prayer vigils for peace, and calling for unity rather than revenge.
The Broader Implications for National Unity
Nigeria’s unity is once again being tested.
Religious mistrust, when combined with ethnic and political division, poses one of the greatest threats to the country’s stability.
CAN warns that if the government continues to trivialize the persecution of Christians, it risks pushing citizens to take matters into their own hands.
Experts agree that genuine reconciliation requires not only peace talks but also justice and truth-telling.
Nigeria must confront uncomfortable realities about its security system, political favoritism, and religious intolerance to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Expert Views and Security Analysis
Security experts believe that both religion and politics are intertwined in Nigeria’s violence.
While some attacks may stem from economic desperation or land disputes, extremists often exploit religious identity to justify killings and gain followers.
Dr. Raymond Dogo, a conflict analyst at the University of Jos, explained that “the failure of intelligence gathering and the lack of political will to prosecute offenders have turned Nigeria into a breeding ground for impunity.”
He added that until the government separates genuine security threats from religiously motivated terrorism, groups like CAN will continue to accuse it of bias and denial.
The Path Forward: Justice, Dialogue, and Truth
To end the cycle of violence, both government and religious bodies must adopt a new approach — one that acknowledges victims’ pain and seeks long-term solutions.
CAN has pledged to continue working with Islamic leaders who are genuinely committed to peace.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations are calling for community-level reconciliation projects, better education to counter extremism, and more inclusive governance.
Peace will remain elusive unless the government ensures fairness, equal protection, and transparent communication.
Admitting that religious persecution exists is not a sign of weakness — it is the first step toward healing.
Conclusion
The ongoing dispute between CAN and the Presidency underscores the deep divisions and mistrust shaping Nigeria’s national discourse.
While the government insists that insecurity affects everyone, CAN’s position is that Christians bear a disproportionate share of the suffering and deserve recognition and protection.
As both sides continue their exchange, the real victims — innocent Nigerians caught in the crossfire — remain the ones paying the highest price.
For Nigeria to move forward, the truth must be acknowledged, justice must be done, and unity must be built on fairness and empathy rather than denial.
Author Bio
Written by: Smart Chuks
Investigative journalist, editor, and human rights advocate with SaharaNews247. Passionate about truth-driven reporting, social justice, and interfaith peace in Africa.
