CAN declares nationwide one-day prayer against ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a nationwide one-day prayer to address what it calls the “ongoing Christian genocide in the country.” The announcement followed resolutions reached at the 4th Quarter Meeting of its National Executive Council held on November 18, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State.

According to Sahara Reporters, the directive was contained in a circular dated November 20, 2025, signed by CAN’s General Secretary, Apostle Professor Samson A. Fatokun, and issued from the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The circular, addressed to CAN bloc leaders, zonal and state chairmen, heads of church denominations, and resident pastors across Nigeria, conveyed instructions from the CAN President, Archbishop (Dr.) Daniel C. Okoh.

As part of the resolutions of the 4th Quarter Meeting of CAN National Executive Council held in Jos… I am directed by the CAN President… to inform all church leaders and pastors of the declaration/observance of a one-day nationwide prayer against the ongoing Christian genocide in the country,” the letter read.

The prayer session is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025, and is expected to be observed by all Christian denominations nationwide.

The circular listed the prayer points to include “divine intervention to put a stop to the ongoing Christian genocide,” “divine intervention in the resettling of displaced Christians,” and a “divine stop to the activities of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits in the country.”

It also seeks “divine wisdom for government to take the right steps” and “divine restoration of peace and tranquility in Nigeria.”

CAN urged church leaders to take the prayer seriously, stressing its spiritual importance.
“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,” Fatokun added.

The claim of Christian Genocide in Nigeria was recently reignited by US President Donald Trump when he redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for religious freedom violations.

Nigeria is one of the 13 nations that the US has placed on the pariah list. Trump had included the most populous African country in the same category during his first term in office in 2020, but his successor, Joe Biden, delisted it in 2021.

According to Trump, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

He further declared that the military action would be “fast, vicious and sweet.” As a result, he claimed to have ordered his Department of War to prepare for the assault.

In response to Trump’s rhetoric, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to engage the US diplomatically and welcome support to defeat terrorism.

On Friday, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and top government officials met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss the allegations of Christian genocide.