The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has decried the continuous attacks on Christian communities across the country, which it says have led to significant loss of lives and displacement.
In a statement on Wednesday, CAN President Daniel Okoh called on security agencies to urgently address the ongoing violence.
“These realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region,” Okoh stated.
His statement comes in the wake of accusations by US Senator Ted Cruz, who alleged that Nigerian officials were “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.” Cruz further claimed that Christians in Nigeria “are being forced to submit to sharia law and blasphemy laws across Nigeria.”
Responding to these concerns, CAN noted 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 association said. “The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.”
CAN added that it has consistently advocated for justice and religious freedom through various channels. “Over the years, CAN and the wider Christian community have worked tirelessly to draw attention, both nationally and internationally, to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” the statement read.
“The Association has established mechanisms for recording incidents of religiously motivated killings, engaged with international partners, written to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and hosted global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement.”
What you should know
CAN’s renewed call for action follows growing international attention on Nigeria’s security and religious freedom record.
The association maintains that the government must act swiftly to end the violence and ensure that affected Christian communities receive justice and protection.
