Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take decisive action against individuals responsible for violent attacks on Christian communities across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, Meloni condemned the growing wave of assaults targeting Christians and stressed that religious freedom remains a fundamental human right that must be protected. She also called for stronger security in Christian-populated areas to prevent further tragedies.
“We strongly condemn the renewed violence against Christian communities in Nigeria today. Religious freedom is an inalienable right: we call on the Nigerian government to strengthen the protection of Christian communities and all religious communities and prosecute those responsible for this heinous attack. Italy expresses its closeness to the victims and communities in Nigeria that today feel in danger because of their religious beliefs,” Meloni wrote.
Her remarks came in response to the recent surge of attacks on Christian groups, including the kidnapping of worshippers earlier in the week in Kwara State.
Gunmen stormed a church in the Eruku area on Tuesday evening, killing at least two people and abducting the pastor along with several worshippers. The assault came just days after 25 girls were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kebbi State, heightening concerns about insecurity across various regions.
The Eruku incident has further intensified pressure on the Nigerian government, especially as US President Donald Trump continues to criticize Nigeria’s handling of violence against Christians, even threatening possible military intervention over what he described as ongoing persecution.
In response to the national outrage, President Bola Tinubu postponed his scheduled trip to the G20 and AU-EU summits in South Africa and Angola. He opted instead to remain in the country to receive security briefings on the recent attacks and directed increased military and police deployments to track down the perpetrators in Kwara State.
The President also ordered security agencies “to do everything possible” to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls and ensure their safe return, according to his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Emerging reports indicate that the gunmen responsible for the Kwara church attack have allegedly demanded a ₦3 billion ransom for the release of the kidnapped victims.
A local leader, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, confirmed that the attackers had begun contacting the families of those taken, including his four relatives who are among the abducted.
What You Should Know
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s statement adds international pressure on Nigeria as violence against Christian communities gains global attention.
Her call for prosecution and improved security comes amid heightened scrutiny from world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
The recent incidents in Kwara and Kebbi underscore Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with insecurity, prompting emergency actions from President Tinubu and raising concerns about the safety of vulnerable communities nationwide.
