Events
‘Christian Genocide Cannot Be Denied,’ Says CAN at Fourth Quarter NEC Meeting in Jos
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, formally opened its fourth quarter National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Jos, Plateau State, with leaders issuing strong calls for unity, justice, and urgent action in response to what they described as ongoing targeted attacks on Christian communities across the country.
The meeting, hosted at the Cripan Hotel, drew national, zonal, and state leaders of the Association, as well as senior clergy, civil society partners, and government representatives.
Plateau CAN Welcomes Delegates, Calls for Direction Amid National Challenges
In a welcome address delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Chairman, Rev. Dr. K. K. Saleh, the Plateau State CAN Chairman, Rev. Dr. Dunka Gonwalk, welcomed delegates to Jos and expressed gratitude to God for journey mercies and the support of the Plateau State Government.
He noted that the NEC meeting was holding at a time when Nigeria is confronted with “complex challenges” spanning insecurity, economic hardship, and political instability. He urged delegates to provide “critical direction and solutions” to the issues facing the nation.
“This edition of the NEC comes at a challenging time in our nation’s history,” he said. “I am hopeful that this august assembly will bring forth critical and much-needed direction, counsel, and solutions to the issues plaguing our great nation.”
North Central CAN Chair Warns That Division Weakens Christian Witness
Also speaking, the CAN North Central Zonal Chairman, Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson, reminded Church leaders of their responsibility to maintain unity, uphold sound doctrine, and strengthen Christian witness.
“Division diminishes our witness, but unity magnifies the light of Christ,” he said, urging leaders to deepen community engagement through compassion, justice, and service.
CAN President: ‘It Would Be a Grave Injustice to Deny What Is Happening’
Delivering his opening remark, the CAN President, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Oko, issued one of the strongest statements of the day, declaring that the suffering of Christian communities in the North and Middle Belt amounted to genocide.
He lamented years of killings, displacement, destroyed churches, and communities uprooted from ancestral lands.
“It will be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired and what is still going on,” he said. “Across many parts of northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities have experienced repeated, coordinated, and clearly targeted attacks… Victims have not been compensated, and perpetrators continue to evade accountability.”
Archbishop Oko reaffirmed CAN’s position that Christians are being deliberately targeted, insisting that the Association “will not be silent.”
Sermon: ‘Unity is Our Only Path to Victory’ — Rev. Baba
Delivering the sermon, the CAN National Vice President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Panyan Baba, emphasized that unity and obedience to God’s word are essential for the Church to confront persecution and national crises.
Quoting scripture, he warned that disunity weakens the Church’s ability to resist attacks.
“Unity among us will lead to victory against the enemies of the cross,” he said. “A house divided against itself cannot stand… When they finally come for us, there will be no one left to speak for us.”
Rev. Baba recounted the heavy toll of violence on Christian communities in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Borno, and Adamawa.
“If that is not genocide, I wonder what you call it,” he said.
Para-Mallam: ‘Targeted Killings of Christians Are Established Facts’
In his goodwill message, Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam commended the peaceful hosting of recent events in Plateau State as a testament to the possibility of peace in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for the Church to speak with one voice, particularly in confronting the rising targeted killings and kidnappings of Christians across the country. Highlighting the ongoing captivity of Leah Sharibu and other Christian girls, he called for united Church action to ensure their release and to end all forms of persecution. Dr. Para-Mallam stressed that coordinated efforts by the Church, government, and security agencies are vital to restoring peace and protecting all Nigerians.
He called for united Church action to secure the release of Leah Sharibu and other Christian girls still in captivity.
“Is there ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria today? The answer is a capital YES,” he said, citing recent kidnappings of Christian girls in Borno and Kebbi States.
He urged the Church to take a united stand against Boko Haram, bandits, and armed herdsmen.
Other Speakers Call for Action, Justice, and Global Advocacy
Speakers including the National Christian Elders Forum, Rev. Pandam Yamsa, Prophet Isa El-Buba, and Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo reinforced the urgent need for unity and strategic action.
Prophet Isa El-Buba called for a unified and decisive Christian response to the ongoing violence and genocide against Christians in Nigeria. He emphasized that the Church must speak with one voice, take bold action, and engage both national authorities and international partners. He urged the establishment of a national prayer and advocacy coalition, rapid response units, and structured community defense to protect vulnerable Christians, provide relief, and rebuild affected communities. According to him, the Church can no longer remain silent or passive in the face of persecution.
“Nigeria is bleeding, and the church must speak with one voice, not a fragmented tone. The ongoing genocide is real, and it must stop. While we pray, we must also act strategically, setting up a national prayer watch and a rapid response advocacy unit to engage government, military, and international observers. The church cannot continue to watch endlessly; the end of that dragon with multiple heads has come to an end.”
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo warned that silence in the face of persecution is tantamount to complicity. He stressed the moral obligation of Christians to defend their communities, hold the government accountable, and take evidence of atrocities to international platforms such as the International Criminal Court. He highlighted the danger of failing future generations if Christians do not act now, stressing that faith requires boldness and decisive action against injustice.
“What will our future generation look like in Nigeria if we don’t speak now? Silence in the face of persecution means we have failed our brothers. I’ve been burying people killed by terrorists, and we cannot continue to watch passively. We are going to take this issue to the International Criminal Court to ensure the world knows there is genocide on Christians.”
Traditional rulers under the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs also pledged support for a united Church voice.
Plateau Deputy Governor Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Peace
Representing Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo delivered a goodwill message in which she commended CAN’s leadership and emphasized the administration’s commitment to restoring peace, resettling displaced persons, and securing rural communities.
“This meeting comes at a time when our nation faces complex challenges,” she said. “Plateau is committed to restoring true peace, securing our rural areas, and resettling displaced persons… We deeply appreciate CAN for your prayers, support, and partnership.”
NEC Sessions Continue Through the Week
The meeting is expected to continue with plenary sessions, reports from states and blocs, and strategic discussions on national security, advocacy, and the role of the Church in strengthening Nigeria’s social and moral foundations.
Journalists and media professionals from across Plateau State have concluded a three-day intensive Media for Peace workshop organized under the Peacecore Project implemented by GIZ Nigeria at Crispan Suites and Hotel, Jos.
The workshop, which marked the Second Cohort of the Media for Peace training, focused on conflict-sensitive reporting, communication development and peacebuilding, artificial intelligence, and the use of fact-checking tools in journalism practice.
Speaking during the training, Susan Gopuk of GIZ Nigeria highlighted the organization’s long-standing commitment to peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and livelihoods support in Nigeria. She explained that GIZ, a German agency for international cooperation funded mainly by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, operates in over 120 countries and has maintained a presence in Nigeria for 51 years with more than 30 projects nationwide.
According to her, the Peacecore Project currently operates in Kaduna, Plateau, and Taraba states in collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, media practitioners, and international partners. She noted that while the project’s first phase focused on strengthening peacebuilding and conflict resolution between farmers and herders, the second phase now emphasizes conflict transformation and sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable groups including women, youth, children, internally displaced persons, farmers, herders, and persons living with disabilities.
Susan stressed that gender equality remains central to the project, with deliberate efforts aimed at improving women’s access to rights, representation, and resources. She also highlighted interventions in dialogue, mental health support, youth engagement, climate-smart livelihoods, and infrastructure development.
She further emphasized the role of the media in promoting peace and countering hate speech, misinformation, and divisive narratives, especially in fragile communities like Plateau State.
One of the resource persons, Lady Irene David-Irene, delivered a presentation on Communication Development and Peace Building, where she underscored the influence journalists and media professionals wield in shaping public perception and social cohesion.
She warned that every action or inaction by journalists carries consequences, particularly in conflict-prone societies where reports can either promote peace or escalate tensions. She identified misinformation, sensationalism, hate speech, and biased reporting as key issues threatening peace and stability.
Lady Irene urged participants to embrace ethical, balanced, and conflict-sensitive journalism capable of fostering dialogue, unity, and mutual understanding within communities.
Thaddeus Yilmen said the sessions refreshed journalists on the ethics, responsibilities, and expectations of the profession, particularly the “do’s and don’ts” of responsible reporting. He called for more regular trainings to enable more media practitioners to benefit and contribute to peace-focused journalism.
Similarly, Tongnaan Bawa appreciated the organizers and facilitators for what she described as a valuable and enlightening experience. She assured that participants would apply the knowledge gained and continue promoting responsible journalism and peaceful narratives in their respective platforms.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by GIZ through the Peacecore Project to strengthen peace-focused communication, counter misinformation, and build the capacity of journalists and young people as advocates for peaceful coexistence and conflict prevention in Nigeria.
Stakeholders from government ministries, agencies, civil society organizations, and the media converged in Jos for the Plateau State Consultative Meeting on the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria (2024–2028), aimed at strengthening human rights implementation and coordination across the state.
The consultative meeting, organized by the National Human Rights Commission, was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Community and Social Development Agency Hall.
The National Action Plan represents Nigeria’s second national human rights framework developed in line with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria. The framework seeks to promote and protect human rights while aligning with constitutional, regional, and international human rights obligations.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Kiyenpiya Mafuyai, State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, said the new five-year action plan was developed after identifying gaps in the previous 2009 framework.
According to her, the Commission spent nearly a decade engaging ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to produce a more comprehensive and actionable framework capable of addressing emerging human rights concerns.
She explained that the plan covers civil and political rights such as the right to life, freedom of expression and movement, as well as economic, social, and collective rights including access to health, education, peace, and a healthy environment.
Dr. Mafuyai noted that the framework also prioritizes vulnerable groups including women, children, internally displaced persons, and persons living with disabilities.
“The Human Rights Commission can only monitor implementation, but ministries, departments, agencies, the media, and civil society organizations are critical in ensuring citizens enjoy their rights,” she said.
She further explained that the document clearly assigns responsibilities to relevant institutions, using sectors such as health and education as examples where lead agencies would be identified and monitored through measurable performance indicators.
Using education as an example, Dr. Mafuyai said the framework could measure implementation through the establishment of human rights clubs in schools across the country within the five-year cycle.
On public understanding of human rights, she emphasized that rights are not privileges but legal entitlements guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and international treaties.
She urged citizens to report rights violations to the National Human Rights Commission, assuring that its services remain free and accessible across state capitals nationwide.
Also speaking, Samuel Davou, Chief Administrative Officer in the Office of the Head of Civil Service, Plateau State, described the meeting as an opportunity to study and domesticate the National Action Plan at the state level.
He said the Office of the Head of Service would work to ensure the provisions of the NAP are implemented across ministries, departments, and agencies in Plateau State.
Executive Director of Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse, Jacob Choji Pwakim, said the initiative signaled Nigeria’s growing commitment toward coordinated human rights protection.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between government and civil society actors, noting that isolated interventions would not adequately address human rights challenges.
Pwakim, however, cautioned that previous national action plans had suffered poor implementation due to lack of budgetary allocation and weak accountability mechanisms.
“We want to see what lessons are being learned from the previous NAP and what will be done differently in this current one,” he stated.
Director of News and Current Affairs at the Plateau Radio Television Corporation, John Shailong, said the framework was particularly relevant in addressing workplace ethics and protecting professional rights.
He expressed optimism that with the right enabling environment, the policy would be effectively implemented.
Also contributing, Taddy Chollom, Chief Investigation Officer with the National Human Rights Commission, highlighted the role of civil society organizations in ensuring accountability and influencing human rights-compliant legislation.
He said the consultative process was designed to enable stakeholders to collectively monitor and strengthen the protection and promotion of citizens’ rights in Plateau State.
Chollom added that civil society organizations have continued to serve as the “voice of the voiceless” by shaping governance processes and holding institutions accountable.
The event concluded with further deliberations on the roles of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as civil society organizations (CSOs), in the implementation of the National Action Plan going forward. Desk officers and representatives from various institutions engaged in general discussions focused on implementation strategies, coordination mechanisms, accountability measures, and the way forward for effective human rights protection and promotion in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
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