The Christian Association of Nigeria has clarified its position on the recent conversation concerning the attacks on Christians in Nigeria especially in the North stating that many Christian communities have suffered severe attacks with attendant loss of lives.
The clarification was contained in a statement on Wednesday October 8 signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.
CAN’s reactions is coming barely a month after the US congressman Ted Cruz raised the alarm about Christian genocide in. Nigeria.
Cruz had on September 8 officially introduced the bill known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 in the US Senate. This bill is a concrete legislative action to address the alleged persecution of Christians in the North of Nigeria.
On Tuesday October 7 he made public statements, including an X (formerly Twitter) post blaming Nigerian officials for the “mass murder” of Christians and vowing to hold them accountable.
This prompted a strong rebuttal from the Nigerian government, further highlighting the alarm he raised.
CAN in the statement signed by Archbishop Okoh affirmed that 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.
It noted that “these realities are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region.”
What CAN has done
The Christian body said it had over the years worked tirelessly to draw attention, both nationally and internationally, to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Part of the statement reads, “The Association has established mechanisms for recording incidents of religiously motivated killings, engaged with international partners, written to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and hosted global Christian organisations such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement.
“These sustained efforts demonstrate CAN’s consistent advocacy for justice, peace, and the protection of Christian communities under threat.”
CAN noted further that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial.
It then called on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. ‘The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.” The body warned.
While acknowledging the efforts of government and security agencies in responding to the nation’s security challenges, it called for a redoubling of such efforts towards equitable protection for all.
“It is equally imperative that perpetrators of violence are brought swiftly and transparently to justice. We also appeal to all Christian leaders to continue to speak and act with wisdom, unity, and faith, knowing that peace is too fragile to be taken for granted.” The body stated.
According to CAN, ‘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. Only then can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace.”
