The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has renewed its warning that Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt are facing what it describes as a pattern of coordinated, long-running genocidal attacks. The organisation said the scale of killings, mass displacement and destruction of settlements can no longer be dismissed or downplayed.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the remarks on Tuesday in Jos, Plateau State, during the opening of the association’s Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The gathering, hosted by the Plateau State Government, brought together senior church leaders and regional representatives from across the country.
‘A Painful Reality We Can No Longer Ignore’ — CAN President
Addressing the NEC, Archbishop Okoh said the Christian body “unequivocally stands” by its long-standing position that a Christian genocide is unfolding. He said years of repeated attacks, lack of accountability, and the uprooting of entire communities align with patterns of targeted extermination.
“It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality,” he said. “Lives have been brutally cut short, communities uprooted from ancestral lands, families shattered, churches burnt to the ground. CAN stands firm in its position that Christian genocide is happening in Nigeria.”
Okoh recalled his recent assessment visit to Bokkos, Plateau State, where thousands of Christians are displaced after repeated assaults. The suffering he witnessed, he said, reflects both the magnitude of the destruction and the resilience of survivors.
“To the displaced, we say: you are not forgotten. The Church stands with you,” he added.
Rising Displacement and Lack of Justice Highlight Crisis
The CAN President noted that in many affected communities, entire villages have been destroyed, yet no perpetrators have been prosecuted. Victims remain displaced for months or years without compensation, resettlement, or adequate humanitarian support.
He said continuing attacks, kidnappings and killings demonstrate a systemic failure that requires immediate national reflection and decisive intervention.
Okoh also revealed that international organisations have increased scrutiny of Nigeria’s religious violence. He described this as “painful but necessary,” arguing that global pressure may help compel stronger government action.
CAN Calls for Immediate Government Intervention
Archbishop Okoh urged the federal government to move swiftly to stop the “senseless destruction of lives,” restore security in affected regions, and ensure justice for persecuted communities. He warned that the prolonged presence of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps is both a humanitarian emergency and a moral indictment on the nation.
“No one should ever be persecuted or killed on account of their faith,” he said. “This crisis must be addressed decisively before it escalates further.”
He concluded by affirming CAN’s commitment to sustained advocacy: “We will continue to demand justice, insist on accountability, protect the vulnerable and stand for peace and unity.”
Source:Africa Publicity
