A Christian youth group in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, which has come under persistent attacks by suspected Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), has strongly condemned the trend of some Muslim leaders in the region calling Christians infidels, warning of repercussions.
This warning is contained in a press statement by the Secretary General of the Middle Belt Christian Solidarity Network addressed to the Chairman of the 19 northern states of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Joseph Hayab.
Reverend Joseph Hayab, Chairman, 19 northern states of CAN
“Over time we have watched the insult meted against the Body of Christ.”
The group lamented that “Over time we have watched the insult meted against the Body of Christ by Adamu Ashaka and Aminu Jtown and a host of northern Muslims clerics describing Christians as infidels, Kafurai, Arna, etc.”
The statement dated 12 April 2026 also drew attention to one “Adamu Ashaka [who] has consistently held the bible referring to many chapters as lies and confusion saying the Bible is misleading us, that is blasphemy against the Cross and the body of Christ.”
The youths decried the video making the rounds on social media about an Islamic cleric placing ransom on a Christian clergyman.
“The bounty placed on the head of Pastor Emmanuel S. Garba by that northern Islamic cleric Sani Oris as been circulated on social media, if anything happens to that pastor, we have vow to end peace anywhere we constitute majority…northern Muslims commits more blasphemous activities against the body of Christ,” they lamented.
The Middle Belt Christian Solidarity Network cautioned no one has the monopoly of violence adding that Christians are being disrespected.
The Middle Belt region. Credit: Intervention.ng.
“Nobody has the monopoly of rascality..”
“Nobody has the monopoly of rascality, the repeated killings and blasphemy carried out by most northern Muslims and clerics, including their followers, they have continuously exhibited a high level of disrespect which has become alarming,” they lamented.
They claimed that CAN in the north does not seem to care about cases of blasphemy against Christians.
“I have never heard any statement from Northern CAN against his blasphemous activities. We are lovers of peace but not at the expense of our sovereign existence.
“The church keeps pretending to be seekers of peace while compromising the very essence of Christianity in so many ways,” the statement noted.
Signposting “Enough is enough,” the organisation cited scriptures claiming that Christians can also embrace the principle of an eye for an eye.
“The Holy bible also instructed us to kill anybody who commits blasphemy against Christ and the Cross which is the Symbol and Pride of our faith.
“Leviticus 24:16 has given us the mandate to end the life of those who also commit blasphemy against our faith, we shall invoke that chapter without hesitation if the life of any clergyman is taken unlawfully,” they stated.
We’ll pray and work towards lasting peace
The Christian Solidarity Network stressed that “As we pray and work towards lasting peace, we shall not hesitate to retaliate accordingly.”
According to the members, “Should any Christian be killed in northern Nigeria in the name of blasphemy, we shall not tolerate it anymore.”
They maintained that “We have had enough of this unholy actions and disrespect. This is an unconditional condition to all that are involved.”
As at the time of filing this report, there is official response from either Rev. Hayab or CAN northern region to the Middle Belt Christian Network.
However, recent reports indicates he has ben active in rebranding the Northern Christian leaders as the Northern Christian Association (NCA) to clarify their regional, non-partisan mandate towards addressing insecurity.
