After nearly two weeks of mounting criticism over its muted response, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday aligned itself with the position of former United States President Donald Trump, acknowledging that Christian communities in Nigeria are facing what it described as existential threats and killings that bear the mark of genocide.
Speaking at the opening of the fourth Quarterly National Executive Council meeting in Jos, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the organisation could no longer remain silent at a time when Christian populations across the North and the Middle Belt continue to suffer targeted violence.
His remarks were obtained by Religious Affairs Correspondents in Abuja.
Archbishop Okoh stressed that silence in the face of ongoing brutality is not merely a failure of leadership but a violation of biblical duty.
“Our presence in Jos today is intentional and deeply symbolic,” he said, explaining that the association chose the Plateau State capital to stand shoulder to shoulder with communities that have endured years of persecution, displacement, and insecurity.
The CAN leader painted a grim picture: lives lost in repeated waves of attacks, families uprooted from their ancestral homes, churches burned, and entire communities struggling to rebuild without justice or closure.
He also reiterated the association’s longstanding stance. “We stand unwaveringly by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he said, recalling a recent solidarity visit to Bokkos where he met with displaced Christians and witnessed firsthand the depth of their suffering.
Okoh further assured victims that the organisation’s commitment to their welfare remains firm.
His wirds:“You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned,” he said, adding that CAN’s mission demands speaking out for the oppressed.
“While we work for the well-being of all Nigerians, our immediate constituency, Christians who are being persecuted, remain at the center of our advocacy.”
According to him, the wave of coordinated assaults, killings, kidnappings, arson attacks, and the destruction of churches, has claimed thousands of lives and left survivors without compensation or closure.
Despite the efforts of security agencies, he said, the violence continued unabated, drawing growing concern from the international community.
Although Okoh lamented that Nigeria is attracting global attention for tragic reasons, he said the Christian community welcomes any intervention that will spur decisive governmental action.
He urged both the Federal Government and international partners to act with urgency to protect vulnerable populations and end the cycle of violence.
He also called on federal and state governments to begin the immediate resettlement of internally displaced persons, noting that the prolonged existence of IDP camps is “a painful indictment on our national conscience” and a potential flashpoint for deeper humanitarian crises.
Addressing Christian leaders nationwide, Okoh urged unity and courage.
“This is a season in which we must speak with one voice,” he said, encouraging church leaders to remain steadfast and to continue offering hope even in a time of grief.
Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism that peace will ultimately be restored. “This darkness shall not overcome the light of Christ,” he affirmed.
