Clerics ask FG to create council to tackle religious violence

Christian leaders and human rights advocates have called on the federal government to establish a National Council on Freedom of Religion to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of religious violence across the country. They warned that recurring killings and destruction of worship centres pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and peace. The appeal was made […]

Christian leaders and human rights advocates have called on the federal government to establish a National Council on Freedom of Religion to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of religious violence across the country.

They warned that recurring killings and destruction of worship centres pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and peace. The appeal was made on Wednesday during a roundtable organised by the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) in Abuja.

Speaking virtually, Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, President of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, condemned the growing culture of impunity surrounding mob killings in the name of blasphemy, lamenting that perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.

“The debate over whether Christians are facing genocide is misplaced. The government should instead engage credible Muslim and Christian leaders to acknowledge the killings and commit to ending them. Let’s stop the politics and focus on saving lives,” he said.

Similarly, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation, urged the government to enforce equal justice for all victims of faith-related violence.

“Justice must not depend on who the victim is. Whenever a Christian or Muslim is attacked, we always hear excuses,” he said, calling on faith leaders to unite beyond denominational lines to promote peace and understanding.

Also speaking, Barr. Joseph Danboyi, Head of the National Directorate of Religious Freedom at the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), attributed the rise in religious violence to weak prosecution and selective justice, stressing that both the judiciary and security agencies have failed to protect victims.