By Obinna Uballa
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday renewed its warning that Christians in parts of the country are facing what it describes as an ongoing genocide, citing years of persecution, killings, and widespread displacement in the North and Middle Belt.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the declaration at the Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council Meeting of the association in Jos, Plateau State, stressing that the gathering was a deliberate act of solidarity with communities that have endured relentless violence.
“Our presence in Jos today is not accidental. It is intentional, purposeful, and deeply symbolic,” Okoh said. “We are here to identify with our brothers and sisters across Plateau State and Northern Nigeria who have endured years of unspeakable tragedy, persecution, displacement, devastation, and unrelenting insecurity.”
He insisted that denying the scale of violence would be “a grave injustice,” noting that countless Christians have been killed, entire communities uprooted, churches destroyed, and families shattered. “CAN stands unwaveringly by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria,” he declared.
Okoh recounted a recent visit to displaced Christians in Bokkos, where he prayed with victims and offered support. “We declare with one united voice: You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you,” he assured.
CAN called on the Federal Government and the international community to act decisively to stop the killings and displacement of indigenous people, particularly in Christian-majority areas. It also urged authorities to urgently resettle displaced persons in their ancestral homes to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, declared the meeting open and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to restore lasting peace. He described the gathering as symbolic for Plateau, a state long known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism.”
Mutfwang pledged to continue healing divisions, securing rural communities, and resettling displaced families. “Nigeria needs the Church now more than ever,” he said, commending CAN for its support and urging delegates to strengthen the moral and national values needed for unity.
