The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a nationwide one-day prayer to confront what it describes as the “ongoing Christian genocide” in the country, following resolutions reached at the 4th Quarter Meeting of its National Executive Council held on November 18, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State.
The directive was issued in a circular dated November 20, 2025, and signed by its General Secretary, Apostle Professor Samson A. Fatokun. The message, released from the National Christian Centre in Abuja, was addressed to CAN bloc leaders, zonal and state chairmen, heads of denominations, and resident pastors nationwide.
According to the circular, the instruction came from CAN President Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, who mandated churches across the country to observe the prayer on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Fatokun wrote that the special prayer aims to seek divine intervention to halt the alleged Christian killings, ensure the resettlement of displaced persons, end terrorist and bandit activities, and guide Nigerian leaders toward restoring peace. The prayer will reference key biblical passages, including 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Esther 4:15–16.
“Kindly ensure that this prayer is taken with all fervency. We strongly believe that our God will rise in power as He did in Esther’s time,” the circular stated.
The term “Christian genocide” remains a subject of intense national and international debate. While some human rights groups and foreign politicians insist that Christians face systematic targeting by extremist groups, Nigerian authorities maintain that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.
Advocacy bodies such as the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and the Open Doors claim that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009. U.S. politicians, including Ted Cruz, have called Nigeria “the deadliest country in the world for Christians.”
However, Nigerian officials—including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar—strongly dispute those figures, arguing that victims of terrorism and banditry cut across religious lines. Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia similarly dismissed claims of a religious genocide, attributing violence instead to land-resource conflicts.
Security analysts warn that framing Nigeria’s complex insecurity challenges purely along religious lines risks oversimplifying—and worsening—existing tensions.
The debate intensified after former U.S. President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on October 31, 2025, citing widespread religious persecution. The designation could pave the way for sanctions or restrictions on U.S. aid.
The move was criticized by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, which described it as politically motivated and warned it could inflame religious sensitivities.
As the controversy deepens, CAN says the scheduled prayer is intended to unite Christians nationwide in seeking divine intervention amidst Nigeria’s worsening security environment.
Churches across the country are now preparing for what could become one of the largest coordinated prayer observances in recent years.