A coalition of influential Christian organizations and leaders in Nigeria has issued a powerful call to the country’s Christian population, urging them to actively defend themselves against escalating persecution. The newly formed “Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria” argues that the alarming rate of killings necessitates a more assertive stance from Christian communities.
Numerous anti-Christian persecution watchdogs have consistently identified Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places globally for Christians. Recent events, including the brutal killings of approximately 170 people in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue States by suspected Fulani jihadist herdsmen during this year’s Holy Week, underscore the severity of the situation.
These incidents are not isolated. International Christian Concern reports that at least 300 Christians were massacred in Nigeria in the first three months of 2025 alone, with dozens abducted and thousands displaced.
A 2023 report by the Catholic-inspired NGO, Intersociety, paints an even grimmer picture, stating that over 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. The same report indicated the destruction of 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools, alongside the deaths of approximately 34,000 moderate Muslims in Islamist attacks.
Global Christian Relief estimates that at least 4,000 Christians are killed annually in Nigeria – often exceeding the total number of Christians killed in the rest of the world combined. This statistic reinforces reports that nine out of every ten Christians killed globally are Nigerian.
Initially concentrated in the northern states that adopted Sharia Law in 1999, the targeted killings of Christians have since spread to the Middle Belt and southern regions, fueled by the emergence of other terrorist groups such as Fulani Jihadist herdsmen and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“Enough is enough,” declared the “Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria” in a strongly worded statement signed by Dr. Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe, President of the International Coalition against Christian Genocide in Nigeria (ICAC-GEN) and Director of Public Affairs.
The statement urges Nigerian Christians to rise up and defend themselves, asserting that the current level of killings suggests that the life of a Christian is now valued less than that of a “Fulani cow.”
“We resolved that there is no better time to take the bull by the horn than this moment; a moment where it has become obvious to the Nigerian Christian that the Government of the day, both Federal and States, are shamelessly supportive of the on-going senseless and gruesome killing of innocent Christians and their kidnapping for ransoms across the nation,” the statement reads.
The coalition accuses the government and security forces of complicity in the killings and criticizes the leadership of major Christian groups – including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), and the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) – for perceived weakness or apathy. They lamented that “Nigerian Christians have become sheep without shepherd as much as they are orphans without guardianship,” hence their decision to “urgently take up this initiative of sacrifice.”
“Conscious of our faith and existence as a people, both of which are currently under unimaginable threat, we are by this notice strongly calling on all Nigerian Christians both home and abroad to understand that our survival as Christian citizens of the Nigerian nation is in grave danger beyond the control of our Christian leaders and Christian politicians alike,” the statement emphasized.
While not explicitly advocating for violent retaliation, the statement referenced Biblical scripture, specifically Luke 22:35-36 where Christ advises his followers to acquire swords, and cited statements from world leaders that could be interpreted as justification for self-defense.
“We have been standing akimbo and helpless like vultures beaten by heavy downpour as our Saints and patriots are kidnapped and slaughtered without any culprit brought before the court of law for trial. The question before us is for how long we shall continue to wait and watch as our people are being slaughtered unceasingly?” the statement questioned.
When asked by Crux if his coalition was preparing Christians to take up arms, Dr. Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe pointed to the historical context of Christianity’s arrival in Africa, stating, “After all Christianity came to Africa through the sword of European colonialism.” He firmly asserted, “My position therefore is that Nigerian Christians should rise up and defend themselves.”
This stance is echoed by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Abuja archdiocese, who, in a recent interview with ACI Africa, described self-defense as a form of “natural justice” essential for survival against “bloodthirsty criminals.”
“Self-defense is natural justice. How you defend yourself is important. You can’t just sit there, and somebody comes to kill your family, and you say they are not protecting you. You must rise up and protect yourself and your communities against these bloodthirsty criminals,” Archbishop Kaigama stated.
The strong pronouncements from these Christian bodies signal a potential shift in the response of Nigerian Christians to the ongoing violence and underscore the growing desperation within the community for greater security and protection.
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