CAN insists there is a Christian genocide in northern Nigeria, middle belt

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has renewed warnings over what it describes as a systematic and sustained campaign of violence against Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.

CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh made the declaration on Monday at the opening of the association’s Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council meeting in Jos, Plateau State. He said evidence of targeted killings, mass displacements, and destruction of settlements could no longer be ignored.

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“It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired,” Okoh said. “Lives have been brutally cut short, communities uprooted from their ancestral lands, families torn apart, churches razed, and hopes shattered. CAN has spoken clearly and courageously on this matter, and we stand by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria.”

Okoh recounted his recent visit to Bokkos, where thousands of displaced Christians remain after waves of violent attacks. He said the physical and emotional scars underscored the scale of the crisis, even as victims showed resilience through their faith.

The CAN president decried the continued lack of justice for destroyed communities, noting that perpetrators remain free while victims are neither compensated nor resettled. He called on the federal government to stop the “senseless destruction of lives,” restore security, and ensure justice for persecuted communities.

Okoh also highlighted the humanitarian toll, citing thousands of internally displaced persons still living in camps, describing it as a “ticking time bomb.”

International attention, he added, was welcome if it would spur decisive action by authorities.

Represented by her deputy, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang praised CAN for its advocacy and moral guidance, calling the church a key partner in rebuilding trust and restoring peace. “Nigeria needs the church now more than ever,” he said.