The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed deep concern over the rising spate of targeted attacks on Christian communities across the country, urging the federal government to act decisively to end the killings and ensure justice for victims.
In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the association lamented that insecurity continues to take a devastating toll on Christian families, particularly in northern Nigeria.
CAN said it remains troubled by ongoing conversations around faith, violence, and the real cost of insecurity, stressing the need for truth and clarity in public discourse.
“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. These realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region,” the statement read in part.
Over the years, the Christian body said it has consistently drawn global attention to the plight of Christians in Nigeria, documenting incidents of persecution and raising the matter with international bodies.
It noted that it had written to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and hosted leading global Christian groups such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement to press for justice and protection for vulnerable communities.
Despite these efforts, CAN lamented that the cries of Christian victims are often met with “denial and delay.”
“Our concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial. We therefore renew our call 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 pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics,” it stated.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to tackle insecurity, CAN said these efforts must be strengthened to ensure fair and equitable protection for all Nigerians.
“CAN acknowledges the efforts of government and security agencies in responding to the nation’s security challenges, but urges that these efforts be redoubled towards equitable protection for all. It is equally imperative that perpetrators of violence are brought swiftly and transparently to justice. 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.”
The association stressed that Nigeria must not ignore the pain of victims or reduce their suffering to mere numbers.
According to CAN, true peace can only emerge from justice, unity, and compassion.
“Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage: the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities. Only then can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace,” the statement added.
