The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has said, in a statement at the 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland, that the Nigerian government must do more to protect Christians from the ‘brutal violence’ of extremist groups.
The WEA spoke of ‘patterns of repeated violence’ by extremist groups in Nigeria which are wiping out communities and displacing thousands. It called on the country’s government to do more to ‘disarm violent groups’ and ‘boost security’ in the nation.
It said the Nigerian government ‘has failed to prevent and protect civilians from the increase of brutal acts of violence of which many Nigerians are victims, but most particularly Christians, with impunity’.
It also urged them to ‘disarm members of violent armed groups including Fulani herdsmen, boost security presence in Middle Belt vulnerable communities; investigate the perpetrators of violence, hold them accountable to the justice system and break the cycle of violence that is expanding.’
Over half of Nigeria’s population of 170 million is thought to be Christian, and its prayer movement is considered one of the strongest in the world, according to Mission Africa’s website.
However, violence has escalated in the country over time as tensions have grown between Christians and Muslims, and many Christians face the threat of violent attack from groups such as Boko Haram, which targets churches and has killed hundreds of Christians.
