Catholic bishops in Nigeria have strongly condemned the continued killing of Christians in the country, describing it as a “national tragedy” and a “scandal against our common humanity.” In a statement issued on June 6, the bishops declared that “there is no justification for continued bloodshed.”
The statement follows a wave of deadly attacks in several Nigerian states, including Benue, Plateau, Taraba and the Middle Belt regions, where armed groups (including, allegedly, jihadist Fulani herdsmen) have predominantly targeted Christian communities. In one incident on June 1 alone, at least 43 people were killed in Gwer West and Apa counties of Benue State. Dozens more have been killed in attacks in Plateau and Taraba States in recent weeks.
The bishops said these attacks were continuing under the watch of civil authorities and represented a serious moral and constitutional failure. While acknowledging some state-led efforts to improve infrastructure and pay salaries, they said, “This massacre must end.” But they stressed that “no matter how well a government pays salaries or builds roads, its failure to protect human lives renders its achievements futile.”
Since 2009, Nigeria has experienced widespread violence, with thousands killed and displaced. According to Genocide Watch, more than 45,000 Christians and 30,000 Muslims were killed between 2009 and 2022. The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) reported that 950 Christian communities in the southeast of the country have been displaced.
Kaigama blamed much of the unrest on poor leadership and deepening poverty. Intersociety Director Emeka Umeagbalasi went further, accusing the Nigerian government of facilitating a religiously motivated campaign to eradicate Christianity, including the secret recruitment of jihadists into the country’s military under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The bishops’ statement called on federal and state authorities to “take urgent, decisive and sustained action to secure lives and restore hope for our people.”
The country’s challenges are not limited to violence. Nigeria also recently suffered its worst flooding in six decades, killing more than 150 people in Niger State. Bishop Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu of Minna said the disaster had destroyed entire communities and left residents with nothing. He assured survivors of the Church’s prayers and support for the rebuilding efforts.
As violence and natural disasters continue to affect millions of people, Catholic bishops have stressed the urgent need for national unity, leadership responsibility and the defense of human dignity across Nigeria.