The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, says the Church has no objection to the growing international scrutiny over attacks on Christian communities, insisting that global pressure may finally compel the Federal Government to act decisively.
He stated this in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday at the opening of CAN’s Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council meeting.
Addressing Christian leaders from across the country, Okoh said the world is becoming increasingly alarmed by the scale, consistency and brutality of attacks on Christian communities, particularly in the North and the Middle Belt.
“CAN has spoken clearly and courageously on this matter, and we stand unwaveringly by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he declared.
Okoh referenced his recent visit to Bokkos, Plateau State, where he and other CAN officials met with displaced families affected by recent attacks. He said the widespread destruction they witnessed explains why global concern has intensified.
He described entire communities uprooted, homes levelled and thousands of lives altered permanently.
“We declare with one united voice: You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you,” Okoh said.
The CAN President lamented that years of killings, kidnappings and village burnings have gone unpunished, creating a climate of impunity that has now caught the attention of the international community.
He said while it is painful for Nigeria to attract global headlines for such reasons, the Church recognises the value of any intervention that forces authorities to protect citizens.
“Although we are pained that Nigeria is being spotlighted for such grievous reasons, 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,” Okoh stated.
‘We Will Continue to Demand Justice’ — CAN Vows Sustained Advocacy
Archbishop Okoh reaffirmed that CAN will intensify both local and international advocacy until Christian communities across Nigeria receive adequate protection.
“We will continue to demand justice. We will continue to call for accountability. We will continue to defend the vulnerable. We will continue to advocate for peace and unity in Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed the need for the Government to prioritise the immediate resettlement of internally displaced persons, warning that leaving citizens in camps indefinitely poses a long-term threat to national stability.
“No individual should ever be persecuted or killed on account of their faith,” CAN maintained.
Okoh also appealed to Christian leaders to remain united and steadfast, noting that the world is watching Nigeria’s response to the ongoing crisis.
He said the Church must continue to speak with one voice, emphasising that global attention should serve as a reminder that the suffering of persecuted Christian communities will no longer be ignored.
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