The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has condemned the killing of 34 Christians at Angwan Rukuba in Jos on Palm Sunday, describing the incident as part of a recurring pattern of targeted violence in the country.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Bosun Emmanuel, the group expressed “anguish over the murder of 34 Christians,” adding that it “mourns with the families affected in the carnage” and prayed that God would “comfort and strengthen them to bear the loss.”
The organisation said the March 29 attack “follows a pattern of unprovoked yet dastardly attacks on unarmed Christians in the Northern and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria,” rejecting claims that such incidents were merely clashes between herders and farmers.
According to the statement, “the convoluted conspiracies about a clash between herders and farmers has again crashed, as the attack was on no farmland and the attackers were herding no livestock,” insisting that the violence “has purely been Islamist terrorism based on Islamic jihad.”
CSMN maintained that such acts violate Sections 38(1) and 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee religious freedom and prohibit the adoption of any state religion.
The group recalled previous attacks during Christian festive periods, including the Christmas Day 2011 bombings by Boko Haram and subsequent incidents across Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Benue states between 2012 and 2025.
It noted that “over the years, there have been similar attacks against Christians during Christian festivities,” suggesting a pattern that has persisted over time.
CSMN, however, took particular exception to recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, who reportedly described terrorists as “prodigal sons” who should be welcomed back.
The group queried the analogy, asking, “Did the prodigal son of the Bible shed the blood of innocent people?” It added that it was “perplexing” that the defence chief made such a characterisation without referencing the biblical injunction in Genesis 9:6, which, according to the group, prescribes accountability for the shedding of innocent blood.
The statement described the Jos killings as “a painful reminder of the shoddy handling of the war on terror by the Federal Government,” alleging that “the Government has been acting in slow motions that have provoked intelligent fingers pointing at it as an accomplice or enabler of the terrorists.”
CSMN questioned the government’s security priorities, noting that while it demonstrated capacity to intervene in a coup situation in Benin Republic, it had struggled to effectively contain domestic terror attacks.
It also criticised the reintegration of former insurgents into the security architecture, stating that “instead of decisively eradicating Islamic terrorism in Nigeria, the government has been absorbing terrorists into the Nigeria Army… as repentant terrorists.”
The group further faulted the lack of action on statements by Islamic cleric Abubakar Gumi, which it described as provocative and supportive of terrorist elements.
In addition, CSMN called on the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, to demonstrate stronger leadership, stating that his dual role places a responsibility on him in addressing the situation.
The organisation urged the international community to intervene, asserting that “more people have been killed and are being killed in Nigeria by ethnoreligious Islamist insurgents than are killed in Palestine,” while emphasising that “all lives are sacred.”
It also cited Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, noting that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” and added that “the security and welfare of Nigerians do not appear to be the primary purpose of the present administration.”
CSMN expressed sympathy with affected Nigerians, stating that citizens have continued to endure hardship amid persistent insecurity across parts of the country.
