Facing an alarming surge in violence and persecution, a coalition of prominent Nigerian Christian organizations and leaders has issued a powerful and unprecedented call for Christian communities to actively defend themselves. The newly formed “Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria” argues that the escalating killings and lack of adequate protection from authorities leave them with no other choice.
For years, Nigeria has been flagged by international watchdogs as a perilous nation for Christians, and the situation appears to be worsening. The recent Holy Week saw a horrific massacre in Plateau and Benue States, where suspected Fulani jihadist herdsmen reportedly killed around 170 individuals. This tragedy is part of a larger, deeply disturbing pattern. International Christian Concern documented at least 300 Christian deaths in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025 alone, alongside numerous abductions and widespread displacement.
The scale of the crisis is further highlighted by a 2023 report from Intersociety, a Catholic-inspired NGO, which estimated that over 50,000 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. The report also detailed the destruction of thousands of churches and Christian schools, as well as the deaths of many moderate Muslims in Islamist attacks. Statistics from Global Christian Relief suggest that Nigeria accounts for a staggering 90% of Christian killings worldwide, with at least 4,000 lives lost annually.
While the violence initially plagued the northern states, it has since spread relentlessly to the Middle Belt and southern regions, fueled by groups like Fulani jihadist herdsmen and ISWAP. In response to this escalating crisis, the “Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria,” representing concerned Christian voices, declared, “Enough is enough.”
In a signed statement, Dr. Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe, President of ICAC-GEN and Director of Public Affairs for the coalition, urged Nigerian Christians to take proactive measures for their own safety. The statement emphasized the perceived inaction and even complicity of both federal and state governments in the “senseless and gruesome killing of innocent Christians and their kidnapping for ransoms.”
The coalition went further, accusing the government and security forces of turning a blind eye to the violence perpetrated by “these hordes of Muslim criminals masquerading as Fulani Herdsmen, Bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP Islamic insurgents.” They also criticized the leadership of major Christian bodies like CAN, CCN, and CSN for their alleged weakness and apathy, stating that Nigerian Christians have become “sheep without shepherd” and “orphans without guardianship,” necessitating their own decisive action.
The statement explicitly calls on all Nigerian Christians, both at home and abroad, to recognize the “grave danger beyond the control of our Christian leaders and Christian politicians alike” that threatens their very survival as citizens.
While the statement stopped short of explicitly advocating armed resistance, it strategically referenced Biblical passages, including Luke 22:35-36 where Jesus instructs his followers to acquire swords, and alluded to historical justifications for self-defense.
Dr. Nwaezeigwe, when questioned by Crux about the possibility of Christians taking up arms, pointed to the historical context of Christianity’s arrival in Africa, suggesting that self-defense is not an alien concept. He unequivocally stated, “My position therefore is that Nigerian Christians should rise up and defend themselves.”
This sentiment is echoed by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Abuja archdiocese, who recently described self-defense as a matter of “natural justice” against “bloodthirsty criminals.” He emphasized the responsibility of individuals and communities to protect themselves when authorities fail to do so.
The impassioned plea from these Nigerian Christian leaders marks a significant turning point, signaling a growing sense of urgency and a demand for more assertive action from Christian communities facing relentless violence and perceived abandonment. The implications of this call for self-defense remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly reflects the deep-seated fear and frustration within Nigeria’s Christian population.
