26 Apr 2018 | 02:40 AM UTC
Nigeria: Protests at churches nationwide April 29
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) calls for Christians to hold peaceful protests in their churches on April 29 to denounce recent violence targeting Christian community
Event
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is calling for Christians to stage peaceful demonstrations at churches across the country on Sunday, April 29, to denounce recent violence against the Christian community. Christian leaders are also asking the government to increase efforts to arrest and prosecute herdsmen that target churches. While the demonstrations are expected to remain peaceful, there is the risk that they could be specifically targeted in similar attacks. Further attacks against Christians in the coming weeks also remain possible.
Context
CAN organized the protest after 19 people, including two priests, were killed by suspected herdsmen in Benue state on Tuesday, April 24. The attack reportedly took place at a church in Ayar-Mbalom (Gwer East local government area); according to local officials, the gunmen also set some 50 houses ablaze and looted buildings in the community.
Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria. Central Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently reported that murder rates linked to ethnic violence in Nigeria are higher than those related to terrorism, also a major security concern in the country.
Advice
Individuals in Nigeria are advised to remain vigilant and avoid all protests as a precaution.
The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.
