Nigerian Christian Organization And Pastor: There's 'Christian Genocide,' 'Targeted Persecution Of Christians' In Nigeria – MEMRI | Middle East Media Research Institute

On November 18, 2025, the Nigerian daily Vanguard published two articles, titled “[Christian Association of Nigeria] CAN Insists There’s Christian Genocide In Nigeria, Urges National, Global Intervention” and “There’s ‘targeted persecution of Christians’ – Pastor Ashimolowo,” detailing violence against Christians in the country. The articles describe how “the evidence of targeted killings, mass displacements and destruction of settlements could no longer be ignored… years of coordinated attacks, unpunished massacres, and the forced displacement of indigenous Christian populations fit the pattern of intentional extermination…. Lives have been brutally cut short, communities uprooted from their ancestral lands, families torn apart, churches razed, and hopes shattered… entire villages had been levelled without justice, even as perpetrators continue to roam free.”

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Daniel Okoh.
Following are the articles:
“CAN Insists There’s Christian Genocide In Nigeria, Urges National, Global Intervention”
“The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has, again, raised the alarm over what it describes as systematic and sustained genocide against Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, declaring that the evidence of targeted killings, mass displacements and destruction of settlements could no longer be ignored.
“The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the declaration at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the association in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday.
“The event, hosted by the Plateau State government, brought together senior church leaders from across the federation.
“Addressing the council, Archbishop Okoh said the Christian body ‘stands unwaveringly’ by its long-held position that a Christian genocide was unfolding in Nigeria, stressing that years of coordinated attacks, unpunished massacres, and the forced displacement of indigenous Christian populations fit the pattern of intentional extermination.
“He said: ‘It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired. 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.’
“He recalled his recent visit to Bokkos where thousands of Christians remained displaced after waves of violent attacks.
“According to him, the physical and emotional scars observed underscored the scale of the tragedy, yet the resilience of the victims reflected the depth of their faith.
“‘We declare with one united voice: you are not forgotten. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you,’ he assured.
“The CAN President lamented that in many communities, entire villages had been levelled without justice, even as perpetrators continue to roam free, while victims had neither been compensated nor resettled.
“The persistence of killings and kidnappings, he noted, was evidence of a failure that demanded national soul-searching.
“He stated further that international institutions had begun to take interest in Nigeria’s prolonged religious violence, a development, he said, was painful but necessary.
“‘If international attention is what is required to spur decisive governmental action, then the Christian community in Nigeria welcomes it,’ he said.
“Archbishop Okoh called on the federal government to take immediate steps to stop the ‘senseless destruction of lives,’ restore security, and ensure justice for persecuted communities.
“He emphasised that the prolonged stay of thousands of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in camps was a moral indictment on the nation and a ticking humanitarian time bomb.
“The CAN leader said further: ‘No individual should ever be persecuted or killed on account of their faith. This humanitarian crisis must be addressed decisively to prevent further escalation.
“‘CAN will not relent. We will continue to demand justice, call for accountability, defend the vulnerable and advocate for peace and unity.’
“In his remarks, the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, described the gathering as significant for a state that had endured some of the worst episodes of ethno-religious violence in recent Nigerian history.
“He reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring enduring peace, securing rural communities and resettling displaced persons.
“Mutfwang praised CAN for its steadfast advocacy and moral guidance, acknowledging the church as a critical partner in rebuilding trust and healing fractured communities.
“‘Nigeria needs the church now more than ever,’ the governor said.
“He expressed optimism that the deliberations of the council would strengthen national unity and further equip religious leaders to continue championing justice, reconciliation and moral reorientation.”[1]
“There’s ‘Targeted Persecution Of Christians’ – Pastor Ashimolowo”

Pastor Ashimolowo
“Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, has questioned the rising pattern of killings, attacks and ‘targeted persecution of Christians’ in parts of Nigeria, warning that the country must confront the reality of mounting violence before it becomes normalized.
“Speaking during a press conference of the Christ Compassion to the Rural World, CCRW, Ashimolowo said the definition of genocide should guide public discourse on whether Christians are victims of systematic elimination.
“According to him, ‘The dictionary defines genocide as deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people from a particular national or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group,’ he began.
“‘With that definition, I want to turn my answers into questions for all of you here today.’
“The cleric, who recalled growing up in Zaria and experiencing communal violence first-hand, said his views were shaped not by newspaper headlines but by life experience.
“‘I was born in 1952 in Zaria. I grew up in Kaduna. The first riot I ever experienced was against people from the East. They didn’t tell me; I saw it,’ he said.
“‘People were being killed right before my eyes. Soldiers tried to prevent it, but the killings continued as attackers marched through the streets shouting ‘Tawai’, meaning ‘Our eyes are opened.”
“According to him, many violent episodes across decades bear the marks of systematic targeting. He listed historical and recent incidents from the Maitatsine crisis to Zangon-Kataf killings, beheading of Christian evangelists, the murder of Deborah Samuel, and multiple attacks in Benue and Southern Kaduna, arguing that they raise troubling questions.
“‘Is that genocide or not?’ he repeatedly asked.
“Speaking on the multiplicity of insecurity challenges, the pastor described violence in Nigeria as ‘a snake with many heads.’ ‘Banditry is a head. Terrorism is a head. Armed herdsmen invading farms is another head. Extortionists demanding money is a head.
“‘And then, deliberate chasing of people away from their land and replacing them with another tribe; that too is a head,’ he said.
“Ashimolowo questioned why the scale of attacks on Christian communities has not resulted in stronger national and legal response.
“Citing the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls and other cases, he stated that the perpetrators committed multiple crimes, including rape, trafficking, forced conversion and forced marriage.
“‘The same people who committed these crimes, you said you forgave them. Who forgave them? Where were they forgiven? Which court of law did that?’ he queried.
“‘How can a man who killed and raped now be brought into the military or the Air Force? How can such a person defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria?’
“He also recounted visiting Maiduguri in 1987 and discovering that churches were restricted to one area of the city, many of which had been burnt.
“‘Are there two Nigerians?’ he asked. ‘How come that in one Nigeria, churches cannot operate and people can be hacked? Is there genocide? I didn’t say there is. You will have to answer whether there is genocide or not.’
“Ashimolowo said the persistence of terror in the country suggests deeper forces at play.
“‘My mother used to say, if a child keeps throwing stones and the stones never finish, there is a supplier,’ he said.
“‘Despite the civil war ending decades ago, terror continues every day. Why can’t it end? Somebody somewhere does not want us to face reality.’
“The pastor insisted that Nigerians must confront the evidence before them. ‘We cannot say there is no genocide. But if you say there is none, answer my questions,’ he concluded.”[2]
[1] Vanguardngr.com/2025/11/can-insists-theres-christian-genocide-in-nigeria, November 18, 2025
[2] Vanguardngr.com/2025/11/theres-targeted-persecution-of-christians-pastor-ashimolowo, November 18, 2025
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