Northern CAN leaders raise alarm over security gaps, religious discrimination in North
…Call for urgent action on IDPs, Almajiris, others
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has raised urgent concerns over religious discrimination, national security, and the erosion of constitutional freedoms during a strategic meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
The high-level dialogue, held at the NSA’s office, was also attended by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
In a 14-point communiqué signed by the Northern CAN Chairman, Rev John Joseph Hayab, and Secretary-General, Bishop Mohammed Naga, the delegation welcomed the NSA’s willingness to listen but warned that the persistence of insecurity, marginalisation, and structural bias against Christians in Northern Nigeria could worsen divisions and threaten the nation’s delicate peace.
The communiqué drew attention to the growing use of inflammatory rhetoric by certain religious leaders, describing such utterances as a key driver of ethno-religious violence. The leaders called for the immediate regulation and public sensitisation of religious preaching, stressing the need for accountability across all faiths.
The group further criticised the spread of fake news and provocative material on social media platforms, urging the federal government to provide security agencies with digital tools for tracking and prosecuting offenders.
CAN expressed alarm over the growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region, cautioning that failure to adequately resettle and rehabilitate victims of violence could entrench trauma and a cycle of retaliatory violence.
The Christian body acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s creation of the National Commission for Almajiris and Out-of-School Children but encouraged the government to broaden the agency’s mandate to include conventional education, adoption schemes, and comprehensive rehabilitation efforts.
Regarding the ongoing reintegration of former Boko Haram fighters, the Christian leaders criticised the current approach, stating that some ex-combatants had become new sources of insecurity in host communities. They urged the government to implement thorough de-radicalisation programmes before allowing reintegration.
The communiqué also condemned several forms of discrimination affecting Christians in the North, including denial of land for church construction, biased appointments and school admissions, and cases of forced conversions of underage Christian girls under the pretext of marriage.
These practices, CAN warned, are undermining national cohesion and breaching the constitutional rights to religious freedom and equal protection.
The group called on the federal government to conduct a full investigation into these issues, stressing that inaction or silence could escalate interfaith tensions.
As a way forward, CAN proposed the creation of a regional interfaith forum comprising respected Muslim and Christian leaders. This body would be tasked with crafting joint strategies to promote peaceful coexistence and social harmony.
The association also urged greater efforts to educate Northern youth on the dangers of drug abuse, while underlining the important role of religious institutions in fostering community-level cooperation on security matters.
Despite the severity of their concerns, the CAN leadership expressed gratitude to the NSA and his team for the platform to voice their grievances. They reaffirmed their readiness to work collaboratively with security agencies in the interest of national unity and stability.
“We regard this meeting as a courageous move towards protecting the country through sincere, inclusive, and constructive dialogue,” the communiqué read.
