The Lack of Concern for the Welfare of Persecuted Christians by the Nigerian Church is Worrisome, says Christian Social Movement

Our correspondent

The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has expressed concern over the attitude and response of some Christians in the southern part of Nigeria to the ongoing “Islamist insurgency” in the north and Middle-Belt regions of the country.

In a statement signed by Bosun Emmanuel, the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary of the movement, the group expressed worry that while the insurgency has assumed “genocidal and disastrous” humanitarian dimensions with some Christian bodies busy responding by providing relief to the affected brethren, the “overwhelming lack of concern by a large section of the Church is disturbing.”

The Movement said it is “deeply troubled” by information in the public domain that some Christian denominations are receiving and sharing campaign materials for the re-election efforts of President Bola Tinubu.

The CSMN statement quoted in part said, “Considering the poor performance of the Tinubu administration with regard to the security and welfare of Nigerians, particularly the failure of the administration to curb the murder of Christians by Islamist insurgents, it is deeply worrisome that some Church leaders would become campaign agents for such an administration.

“In one video report, the head of a ministry was seen sharing cartons of gifts to congregants, with the photograph of President Tinubu on the cartons. In another news item, members of a denomination are seen “dedicating” a campaign bus from the Tinubu re-election team. So far, none of the ministries has refuted the reports.

Making reference to the biblical command in John 13:35, which instructs Christians to love one another, CSMN said it wondered about the kind of love that the Church leaders who fraternize with the APC-led government are showing to their dying brethren in the Middle Belt and in the North of Nigeria.

“In very strong terms, the Movement condemns every Church leader supporting the APC-led government. While the CSMN acknowledges the constitutional guarantees for freedom of association, it expects Christian leaders to exercise ethical restraint in associating with agencies and individuals that demonstrate hostility to Christians.

“The APC-led government has sparked concerns that strongly suggest their active supervision, endorsement, and promotion of Islamist terrorism in Nigeria. Most of the victims of that disaster have been followers of Jesus Christ. It therefore seems contradictory that any leader of the Christian faith would be found supporting such a political structure or its candidate,” CSMN stressed.

While alerting Christians in the relatively “safe zones” that those “murdering their brethren in the Middle Belt and in the North of Nigeria equally hate them and are coming for them,” the Movement added that it wonders how those apparently “unconcerned Christians” would feel if they were the ones in IDP camps while their Christian brethren were throwing parties with their oppressors.

It, however, reminded the Christian community not to forget that the CSMN established the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation to get resources and relief to persecuted Christians in the Middle Belt and in the northern region of Nigeria.

According to the statement, the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation has been supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria since 2020, urging that the focus of the Church at this time should not be for some of its leaders to be strengthening and encouraging the attackers of their brethren, but should focus on supporting members who are being persecuted.

“The CSMN uses this medium to appeal to all Christians to donate a minimum of N500 monthly to the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation in support of persecuted Christians in Nigeria.

“In the last quarter of 2025, out of the millions of Christians in Nigeria, only a few made donations: 146 in October, 128 in November, and 213 in December. The overwhelming lack of concern in the Nigerian Church over the welfare of persecuted Christians is worrisome. This lack of concern flows from the leadership of the Church.”

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