Christian youth leaders from various denominations, including Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), gathered in Jos on Friday to raise fresh concerns about what they describe as a coordinated effort to wipe out indigenous Christian communities in the Middle Belt region.
In a joint press conference, Reverend Jethro Moor spoke on behalf of the youth leaders, condemning the ongoing killings and the forceful seizure of ancestral lands.
He stressed that this growing violence could no longer be ignored, and urged authorities to end their silence and complicity in the matter.
The group argued that the recent wave of violence has moved beyond the usual narrative of farmer-herder clashes or disputes over resources.
They highlighted that these attacks are more than isolated incidents, emphasizing that they are religiously motivated and part of a broader plan to displace and eliminate indigenous Christian communities.
According to the youth leaders, the attacks have been deliberate, systematic, and involve a variety of methods, including shootings, machete assaults, kidnappings, and even forced conversions of children.
They pointed to the frequent chanting of “Allahu Akbar” during these attacks as clear evidence of the religious nature of the violence.
The leaders as learnt by GospelRaw, further condemned the destruction of homes, farms, and livelihoods, which has left many Christian communities displaced and impoverished.
They also expressed concerns over the continued marginalization of these communities, citing examples such as the refusal of the Bauchi State Government to implement the already approved Zaar Chiefdom and the appointment of Muslim leaders over predominantly Christian areas.
To address the ongoing crisis, the youth leaders outlined a number of demands. They called for a rejection of the misleading narrative of farmer-herder conflicts, and urged the government to officially recognize the attacks as an effort at ethnic cleansing.
The group also demanded the immediate return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes, the granting of legal recognition to their land rights, and protection for farmers from harassment.
Additionally, they called for the disarmament of religious extremists, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence, and for security agencies to act impartially in protecting citizens.
The group also urged for a review of Nigeria’s security framework to enhance community policing and expedite the trial of indigenous Christian youths currently in detention.
The Christian youth leaders emphasized that meeting these demands is crucial for restoring faith in the Nigerian government, particularly among millions of displaced people.
They stressed that true peace in the Middle Belt can only be achieved through justice, fairness, and respect for the rights of indigenous communities, and that the situation should not be politicized at any level of government.
