CAN Insists Christian Genocide is Ongoing in Nigeria
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has reiterated its claim that a “Christian genocide” is taking place across the country, urging the federal government and the international community to take urgent and decisive action to stop the widespread killings and displacement of Christian communities, especially in the North and Middle Belt.
OTN News further reports that, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the declaration on Tuesday during the opening of the association’s Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council meeting in Jos.
He described the city as a “symbolic ground” carrying the scars of anguish, resilience, and unbroken faith amid years of violence.
“Our presence in Jos is not accidental. It is intentional, purposeful, and deeply symbolic,” Okoh said, noting that the city has witnessed profound suffering yet remains a place of unwavering hope for millions of Christians in Nigeria.
The Archbishop expressed deep gratitude to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for hosting the meeting, urging him to continue in the path of rebuilding and strengthening communities devastated by conflict.
Okoh painted a grim picture of the violence affecting Christian communities, emphasizing the brutal killing of innocent people, destruction of churches, displacement of families, and razing of entire villages. He insisted that CAN’s position is unchanged: “There is Christian genocide in Nigeria.”
He recounted a recent visit to displaced persons in Bokkos, describing the experience as deeply emotional. “The scars we saw were deep; yet, the faith we encountered was stronger still. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned,” he said.
Defending CAN’s continued outcry, Okoh reiterated that moral and spiritual responsibility demands that the association remain vocal. “Silence in the face of injustice is not only irresponsible; it is unbiblical,” he declared.
According to him, the repeated, coordinated, and often targeted attacks have left thousands dead, widows and orphans in countless numbers, and entire communities wiped out without perpetrators being brought to justice. He acknowledged that the crisis has now drawn increased international attention.
While expressing pain over the negative spotlight on the country, the CAN President stressed that such attention may be necessary to spur meaningful government action.
“If international attention is what is required to spur decisive governmental action to protect lives and bring lasting peace, then we, the Christian community in Nigeria, welcome it,” he said.
Okoh commended the sacrifices of Nigeria’s security agencies but noted that despite their contributions, the killings, kidnappings, and displacement of indigenous people continue unabated.
He called on the federal government and global partners to act swiftly to halt the “senseless destruction of lives,” particularly in Christian-majority communities across the North and Middle Belt.
He also appealed for immediate measures to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) back to their ancestral homes, describing their continued suffering as “a painful indictment on our national conscience.”
The CAN President warned that failure to address the humanitarian crisis could lead to something “far more devastating,” adding, “God forbid.”
Okoh urged Christian leaders nationwide to remain united and courageous, stressing that the current situation is an “existential threat” requiring collective strength, wisdom, and solidarity.
“Even in the midst of grief, we remain a people of hope,” he said. “This darkness shall not overcome the light of Christ. In God’s time, the dawn shall break, and His light will shine upon our land once again.”
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