CAN Asserts That Christians Are Subject To Genocide In Nigeria The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has once again raised a powerful and urgent alarm over what it describes as an ongoing genocide targeting Christians across the country, insisting that years of unchecked killings, abductions, and targeted attacks have gone far beyond isolated incidents of
CAN Asserts That Christians Are Subject To Genocide In Nigeria
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has once again raised a powerful and urgent alarm over what it describes as an ongoing genocide targeting Christians across the country, insisting that years of unchecked killings, abductions, and targeted attacks have gone far beyond isolated incidents of insecurity and now amount to a deliberate attempt to wipe out Christian communities in several regions.
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, CAN lamented that Christian populations in parts of the North and Middle Belt continue to face persistent and systematic violence from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), bandits, and armed militias.
According to the body, the scale, frequency, and patterns of the attacks match internationally accepted definitions of genocide, especially where whole communities are singled out on account of their faith.
CAN noted that the killings of pastors, burning of churches, mass kidnappings of Christian schoolchildren, and the destruction of predominantly Christian villages have become disturbingly routine, with many incidents barely attracting national outrage or drawing adequate government response.
The association said this sustained campaign of terror has pushed thousands into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, forced countless families to abandon their ancestral lands, and gravely threatened the survival of Christian heritage in several states.
The body highlighted several notable tragedies, including relentless attacks in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Borno, and Adamawa, where Christian-majority communities have suffered repeated massacres despite appeals for greater security presence.
It stressed that these atrocities are often carried out with sophisticated weapons, coordinated movement of militants, and precise targeting of Christian settlements, indicating premeditation rather than random violence.
CAN further accused both federal and state authorities of failing to treat the crisis with the seriousness it demands.
While acknowledging that insecurity affects people of all faiths, CAN insisted that the disproportionate targeting of Christian communities cannot be ignored or reduced to general banditry.
It criticized what it called the “silence and inaction” of successive administrations, warning that failure to address the truth behind the killings will only embolden perpetrators.
The association also referenced numerous global reports, by international watchdogs, human rights groups, and foreign governments, documenting the alarming death toll among Christians and the destruction of churches across Nigeria.
These reports, CAN stated, reinforce its long-standing claim that what is unfolding in Nigeria is a religiously motivated extermination campaign, not merely communal clashes or economic-driven violence.
CAN called on President Donald Trump, whose administration has in the past emphasized global religious freedom, to urgently intervene diplomatically by engaging Nigerian authorities, international allies, and multilateral bodies to ensure that the crisis does not escalate into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.
The association urged global Christian organizations, the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the African Union to treat Nigeria’s situation with the same urgency applied to other internationally recognized atrocities.
To Nigerians, particularly Christian leaders, CAN appealed for unity, vigilance, and intensified prayer, stressing that the community must speak with one voice and resist any attempt to silence the truth about their suffering.
It encouraged churches to strengthen security measures, report threats promptly, support victims, and continue advocacy efforts to keep the world alert to their plight.
The body also renewed its call for comprehensive security reforms, including the decentralization of policing, improved intelligence gathering, and the prosecution of perpetrators and their sponsors.
CAN argued that unless those responsible for the killings face justice, Nigeria risks normalizing religious violence and sliding into deeper instability.
Furthermore, the association urged the government to immediately rehabilitate destroyed communities, secure farmlands to prevent famine, and adequately support IDPs who have lost everything.
It noted that many displaced Christians have spent years languishing in camps without meaningful assistance, while their attackers continue to roam freely.
CAN emphasized that denying or downplaying the genocide only deepens the pain of victims and impedes lasting solutions.
It reminded authorities that the first step toward peace is acknowledging the truth, no matter how uncomfortable.
The statement concluded with a solemn warning, “A nation that watches its citizens slaughtered for their faith and does nothing stands on the brink of moral and social collapse. Nigeria cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.”
As tensions continue to rise and attacks persist, CAN’s insistence on labeling the situation as genocide is expected to reignite national and international debate.
But for millions of affected Christians, the plea is simple: recognize their suffering, protect their lives, and restore their hope before it is too late.
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