RismadarVoice Reporters
November 15, 2026
Catholic Church leaders have expressed concern over persistent attacks, kidnappings and killings affecting Christian communities in Nigeria, calling for stronger security measures and coordinated efforts to protect vulnerable citizens.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, and the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, raised the concerns during the 18th National Conference of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN), held in Owerri, Imo State.
The conference, themed Papal Knights and Strategic Engagement in Addressing Christian Persecution in Nigeria: Toward a Coordinated Response, brought together Catholic leaders and representatives from across the country.
Addressing participants, Crotty said Christians had experienced different forms of persecution throughout history, but warned that violent attacks had become particularly troubling in parts of Nigeria.
He highlighted the kidnapping of priests, attacks on places of worship, killings and the displacement of communities as major concerns requiring urgent attention.
The Vatican representative cautioned against politicising religious persecution, acknowledging that insecurity had also affected Nigerians of other religious backgrounds.
He nevertheless maintained that Christians had been specifically targeted in certain areas and urged stakeholders to prioritise the protection of human life.
Crotty called for greater solidarity among Christian communities and cooperation with other religious groups in addressing violence and promoting peaceful coexistence.
In his remarks, Archbishop Ugorji described the security crisis as a complex problem involving religious, ethnic and economic factors.
He acknowledged differing interpretations of the violence, particularly whether attacks constituted deliberate religious persecution or reflected broader failures in national security.
Ugorji expressed concern over attacks on communities, destruction of livelihoods, displacement of residents and disruptions to children’s education.
He also raised allegations of discrimination against Christians in some northern states, including restrictions on church construction and the demolition of places of worship.
The archbishop urged authorities to uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and ensure equal protection for citizens regardless of their faith.
Other speakers, including the Bishop of Makurdi, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, called for stronger action to restore security and enable displaced families to return safely to their communities.
The Church leaders maintained that addressing insecurity required accountability, effective law enforcement, interfaith cooperation and sustained government commitment.
They urged authorities to protect all Nigerians and ensure that perpetrators of violence face justice, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
