The Christian Council of Nigeria has welcomed the United States government’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged human rights violations and reports of Christian genocide, describing the anticipated American intervention as “answered prayer” rather than an invasion of sovereignty.
In a strongly-worded statement released in Abuja on Thursday, the ecumenical body urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to collaborate with the US administration to address the country’s nearly two-decade security crisis, warning that “history will be kind” to the President if he seizes this opportunity to end the killings.
Most Rev. Dr David Onuoha and Rt Rev. Dr Evans Onyamara, President and General Secretary of the CCN respectively, dismissed concerns that external intervention represents an affront to Nigerian sovereignty, instead framing it as a welcome development in tackling the intractable insecurity that has devastated communities across the nation.
“This is not the time for debate on whether there is Christian genocide in Nigeria or not. Rather, it is a time to set aside political considerations, ethnic affiliations, and religious inclinations, and join hands and purpose to address this challenge once and for all,” the religious leaders stated.
The council criticised what it described as conspiracy theories and politically-motivated diversions from the core issue, calling on Nigerian leaders to “think straight on how to collaborate with the United States of America to take out these enemies of humankind, whether Nigerians or foreigners.”
Taking a swipe at the government’s response to the escalating violence, the CCN expressed grave concern over what it termed an “apparent lack of political will to stop the slaughter of Nigerians in their own land,” describing it as a reflection of the nation’s deteriorating moral, security and governance conditions.
“The spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and religious intolerance across the country is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Every life lost diminishes our humanity and offends the image of God in human beings,” the statement read.
Whilst acknowledging that insecurity predates the current administration, the Christian body emphasised that protecting life and property remains “the sacred duty of any government.”
The council, which represents a significant portion of Nigeria’s Christian population, called for fervent prayers for the nation whilst rejecting “violence, oppression, and hatred in any form.”
“We should remember that peace is not the absence of war but the presence of justice,” the religious leaders noted, adding that the CCN remains committed to collaborating with government, civil society and international partners towards achieving a just, peaceful and united Nigeria.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions following the Trump administration’s recent pronouncements on Nigeria’s security situation, which have sparked heated debate amongst political leaders and commentators about sovereignty and foreign intervention.
“Every right-thinking Nigerian and all people of goodwill should uphold our President in prayer for the wisdom and courage to act now,” the CCN concluded, appealing to Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides to support efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.
The council’s position sets it apart from some political voices who have criticised the American designation as interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, instead positioning the anticipated intervention as an opportunity for decisive action against perpetrators of violence across the country.
