Archbishop Condemns Escalating Terror Attacks on Christians and Calls for Decisive National Action

As the Archbishop of Rhema Christian Church & Towers, and the Apostolic Presbyter of both the Christ Global Network (CGN) and the International Communion of Charismatic & Apostolic Ministers (ICCAM), I wish to express deep concern over the escalating incidents of violent attacks affecting Christians, Christian communities, places of worship, and other vulnerable populations across Nigeria.

Over the past months, our nation has been gripped by horror, fear, and persistent terror. According to a recent report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), at least 7,087 Christians were massacred between January 1 and August 10, 2025, while 7,800 others were abducted, amounting to an average of 32 Christian deaths per day and 35 abductions daily.

In June 2025, the Yelwata massacre in Benue State shook our collective conscience: gunmen reportedly killed between 100 and 200 Christians, and displaced about 3,000 people, many of whom sought refuge in a local Catholic mission.

More recently, within a horrific span of two weeks—October 28 to November 11, 2025—101 Christians, including four clerics, were killed, 114 abducted, and six churches ransacked across multiple states.

These numbers are not mere abstractions. They represent pastors and priests, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters—innocent worshippers whose lives have been violently cut short or whose families have been torn apart by fear, abduction, and destruction.

While we recognize that, in some instances, victims come from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds—and we sincerely mourn them as well—there are strong indications that Christian communities have been disproportionately affected by targeted acts of violence.

In this regard, we respectfully appeal to the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies to continue strengthening their efforts to safeguard lives and property.

We sincerely acknowledge the complexity of the security challenges facing our nation and the pressures on our security architecture. We also commend the government for the recent efforts that resulted in the speedy rescue of some church members abducted in Kwara State, as well as the successful recovery of the kidnapped school children.

Equally reassuring is the news that one of the leaders of a notorious terrorist group was recently convicted on a four-count charge and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. We can only hope that such efforts will be intensified to guarantee the security of lives and property across the country.

Where there is a lack of tangible and decisive action, terrorists and aggressors become emboldened, and this deepens the despair of citizens who naturally feel abandoned by the very institutions mandated to protect them.

Nigeria cannot afford a security architecture that reacts only on paper while citizens bleed on the streets. Even more troubling are the persistent insinuations of alleged complicity by some security agents and public officials.

My candid spiritual counsel to such compromised individuals—no matter how highly placed—is simple: fear God! Scripture declares, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21). This counsel is not only for “today,” but especially for “tomorrow”—for indeed, tomorrow comes speedily.

An Urgent Call for Decisive National Action

Undoubtedly, the urgency of the moment demands a more coordinated, proactive, and transparent response. Accordingly, I hereby prayerfully urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to:

• Recognize this situation as a national emergency, requiring accelerated policy attention, multi-agency coordination, and the strategic deployment of resources.
• Enhance the protection of places of worship and other vulnerable institutions through improved intelligence, strengthened security surveillance, and rapid-response mechanisms.
• Invest in early-warning systems and preventive operations, enabling security forces to disrupt attacks before they occur rather than responding only after significant harm has been done.
• Undertake a constructive review of Nigeria’s policing structure, including responsible considerations around decentralizing aspects of policing to improve response time and local accountability.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms, ensuring the timely arrest, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators—irrespective of their affiliations, motivations, or networks.
• Depoliticise security issues, recognizing that the safety of our citizens must take precedence over political interests or electoral calculations. Leadership is exercised over living citizens, not over corpses and skeletons in graveyards.
• Broaden collaborative engagement with local communities, interfaith bodies, and international partners to address underlying drivers of violence such as radicalization, land-related disputes, and the proliferation of arms.

We appreciate the growing concern expressed by members of the international community and welcome, in principle, the recent offer of support from the United States to improve security outcomes in affected regions. We encourage the Federal Government to examine such initiatives carefully and to embrace beneficial partnerships that respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity, and constitutional structures.

A Word to the Christian Faithful

To the Christian faithful—especially those in the most affected regions—I extend my heartfelt solidarity. Your tears are seen, your suffering is not forgotten, your lives matter deeply, and your courage remains an inspiration to the wider Body of Christ. I exhort you to hold fast to hope, to uphold peace, and to remain watchful and steadfast in prayer for our beloved nation.

To Christians across Nigeria and around the world, we call for sustained intercession for national peace, justice, and security. Pray for those in leadership, that they may be endowed with wisdom, compassion, and courage in the discharge of their responsibilities.

We also honour the memories of all victims—clergy and laity, young and old—and pray that their families receive comfort and strength, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Prophetic Assurance

At this critical moment, we affirm our confidence that Nigeria will emerge stronger. We believe that the forces of violence and division will not prevail over the collective will of peace-loving Nigerians. As Scripture assures us, “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever” (Psalm 33:11). We pray that God will guide our nation toward lasting peace and stability.

Meanwhile, I prophesy as I am commanded: the evil plots of the wicked shall never prevail over Nigeria. The eternal Wind of the Holy Spirit shall continually frustrate them and their diabolical agenda (Isaiah 44:24–26). The holy angels shall ambush every allied agent of darkness, subdue them, and neutralize all their schemes of cruelty against innocent Nigerians. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

May the Almighty bless the Church of Jesus Christ, bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and bless all Nigerians working for peace, progress and unity. Amen.

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola, MBA, DD.

Founding Pastor-General, 

Rhema Christian Church & Towers,

Ota, Nigeria.