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The National Secretary of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Elder Hon. Bako Adashu Elijah, has called on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action against the continued attacks on Christian communities across the country.
He made the call during the CRC–N National Youth Fellowship Convention held in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. The YOWICAN National Secretary was joined by chairmen from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and the North East Zone, who visited to identify with him at the convention and collectively address what they described as the disturbing national issue of genocide and persecution in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists, Elder Adashu reminded the government of its constitutional obligation under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of citizens must be the primary purpose of government. He lamented that this responsibility has not been fulfilled, saying that killings, kidnappings, and the destruction of entire communities have become daily occurrences, while those responsible continue to go unpunished.
“The Nigerian government has repeatedly failed to live up to its responsibility. Killings, kidnappings, and destruction of communities have become daily occurrences, while those responsible walk freely,” he stated.
He also addressed recent comments by the President of the United States concerning terrorism and genocide in Nigeria, urging Nigerian leaders to take the remarks as a wake-up call rather than a political attack. According to him, the statement by the American leader should be seen as an invitation to self-reflection and not an affront to national sovereignty. “If America says it will stand against terrorism, why are we protesting? That is what we have been praying for — for God to raise voices and nations to defend the defenseless,” he said.
Elder Adashu listed several regions where Christian communities have suffered repeated attacks, including Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Taraba States. He alleged that the violence in these areas was deliberate and targeted, describing it as a pattern of coordinated persecution. He also referenced the killing of Deborah Samuel Yakubu in Sokoto, who was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu, who was abducted by Boko Haram in 2018 for refusing to renounce her faith.
In addition, he mentioned the case of Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer in Adamawa State who was sentenced to death for defending himself from armed herdsmen, describing the verdict as another example of injustice faced by Christians. “The evidence is overwhelming,” Adashu said. “Entire communities have been wiped out, churches destroyed, and people displaced. What more do we need to call this genocide?”
The YOWICAN delegation criticized what it described as the government’s indifference to the crisis, accusing national leaders of issuing empty statements while failing to arrest or prosecute perpetrators. Elder Adashu questioned why the government had not acted even when public figures openly negotiated with or defended terrorists, noting that such silence only emboldens those behind the attacks. He argued that if the Nigerian government cannot protect its citizens, it should not prevent international allies from assisting in the fight against terrorism.
He further accused political leaders of turning national security into a political enterprise, saying that the lives of ordinary Nigerians have been traded for political convenience. According to him, the country has reached a dangerous point where politics is placed above the value of human life.
Elder Adashu urged the government to ensure justice for all Nigerians regardless of religion or ethnicity. He warned against integrating repentant Boko Haram members into the military or security agencies, arguing that doing so endangers national security and mocks the victims of terrorism. He also called for fairness and inclusion in the political system, emphasizing that no region or faith should dominate others. Furthermore, he demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Islamic clerics Yahaya Gingril and Sheikh Gumi Ahmed for their alleged inciting statements, and called for the removal of the National Security Adviser, whom he accused of failing to protect Nigerian citizens.
Despite their grievances, the YOWICAN leadership reaffirmed their commitment to peace, unity, and national cohesion. Elder Adashu emphasized that Christian youths will continue to speak the truth in love and support the Federal Government’s efforts to restore order and justice across the nation.
Concluding his remarks, he reminded Nigerian leaders that power is temporary, but posterity will remember their actions or inaction. He extended condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks and prayed for the repose of their souls.
“As we leave this convention ground, may our cry echo across the land — let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream,” he said.
