The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by President Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has called on the Federal Government to take firm, fair, and immediate action to stop the ongoing violence and killings targeting Christian communities across the country—particularly in Northern Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement, CAN emphasized that the continued loss of life must not be reduced to mere statistics. “The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as numbers,” the association warned.
CAN expressed deep concern over the current national discourse surrounding faith, violence, and insecurity, urging that the issues be addressed truthfully and with compassion.
Archbishop Okoh stated:
> “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 highlight the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region or creed.”
The association noted that it has taken steps to document incidents of religiously motivated violence, including reaching out to international partners and submitting reports to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
While acknowledging ongoing government efforts to combat insecurity, CAN criticized the often slow or inadequate response to violence that appears to target Christian communities specifically.
The association renewed its call for urgent, transparent, and equitable action to:
* End the killings and attacks,
* Prevent further displacement of vulnerable Christian populations, and
* Ensure that perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.
CAN also urged Christian leaders to remain unified and restrained, even in the face of repeated provocation and violence. At the same time, it called on authorities to uphold justice and ensure equal protection for all Nigerians.
Archbishop Okoh reiterated that Nigeria’s path to recovery must be rooted in honesty and collective resolve, stating:
“Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage—the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities.”
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of CAN’s core belief: that every Nigerian, regardless of faith or ethnicity, deserves equal protection, justice, and dignity under the law.
