Abuja (Nigeria): The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has renewed its call on security agencies to act transparently, equitably and urgently to end the killings and safeguard vulnerable Christian communities.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Okoh said many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of lives, and the destruction of places of worship.
“These realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region,” he said.
According to him, CAN has been working tirelessly to draw attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, both nationally and internationally.
He added that the association had established mechanisms for recording incidents of religiously motivated killings and also engaged with international partners.
“The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.
“We therefore urge the government and security agencies to redouble their efforts toward equitable protection for all and to bring perpetrators of violence to justice swiftly,” he said.
Okoh also appealed to Christian leaders to continue speaking and acting with wisdom, unity, and faith.
“We acknowledge the efforts of government and security agencies in responding to the nation’s security challenges, but urge that these efforts be redoubled towards equitable protection for all.
“It is equally imperative that perpetrators of violence are brought swiftly and transparently to justice.
“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,” he said.
According to him, it is only through facing the nation’s security challenges courageously that Nigeria can rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace.