Christian Communities Suffering Severe Attacks - CAN Cries Out

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the Federal Government to address the attacks on Christians truthfully and with compassion.

In a statement signed by the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the association warned that the loss of Christian lives should not be reduced to statistics.

Expressing concern over the ongoing discussions about faith, violence, and insecurity, he noted that it was paramount for the government to act decisively to end killings and attacks against Christian communities across the country.

CAN said many Christian communities, particularly in northern Nigeria, had suffered attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship.

Okoh noted that these incidents highlighted the need for government and security agencies to ensure the protection of all citizens, regardless of region or creed.

“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 painful realities serve as reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region or creed,” Archbishop Okoh said.

The association disclosed that it had made efforts to document incidents of religiously motivated violence and had engaged international partners to draw attention to the situation.

It listed some of its actions, including writing to the International Criminal Court in The Hague and hosting global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement.

“These efforts demonstrate CAN’s advocacy for justice, peace, and the protection of Christian communities under threat,” it added.

While acknowledging efforts by the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity, CAN said the response to cases involving religiously targeted violence had often been slow or inadequate.

It called for urgent, transparent, and equitable action to stop the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.

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