Nigerian Catholic bishops demand action to stop violence against Christians
Nigerian Catholic bishops demand action to stop violence against Christians
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have called for an end to the ongoing violence targeting Christians, describing the killings as unjustifiable, London-based Catholic Herald magazine reported. Their appeal follows recent deadly attacks in Benue State, where armed groups, reportedly Fulani herdsmen, have killed over 100 people in early June.
Similar violence has been reported in Plateau and Taraba states, with many victims belonging to Christian communities. Data from Genocide Watch reveals that since 2009, over 45,000 Christians and around 30,000 moderate Muslims have lost their lives due to sectarian violence. Thousands of people have been displaced, with nearly 950 Christian communities in southeastern Nigeria abandoned due to these attacks.
The bishops criticised government authorities for failing to ensure citizens’ safety despite efforts to improve infrastructure, stressing that protecting lives should be the foremost responsibility. They labelled the violence a serious moral and constitutional failure and called for swift, decisive action from both federal and state governments. Analysts link the violence partly to leadership challenges and the infiltration of radical elements within security forces. Meanwhile, Nigeria has also experienced severe flooding, which recently killed over 150 people in Niger State.
