The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has described the recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ by U.S. President Donald Trump as a welcome development and a long-overdue moment of truth.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the association, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
“At last, someone, somewhere, has taken notice of the plight of Christians in Northern Nigeria—a plight our own government has consistently failed to acknowledge, let alone address,” the statement read.
According to SKCLA, Christians in northern Nigeria have for too long been abandoned by the very nation meant to protect them.
“Successive governments, northern Muslim leaders, and even some Christian leaders and governors have paid lip service to peace, human rights, and unity. Meanwhile, the systematic rewriting of the history of northern minorities continues, with their lands seized, quotas stolen, traditional institutions debased, and political representation denied,” the group stated.
The statement, titled ‘Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a country of concern: A welcome call to conscience,’ further alleged that in many northern cities and institutions such as Bayero University and Sokoto University, as well as in several other establishments, churches are not permitted to be built while mosques abound—conditions the group said encourage extremist ideologies hostile to Christianity.
“This is not so in the South, which raises the question: do we have a separate government from the South? What tradition or policy allows one section to be enslaved by another in modern times? These are the realities of the North that the Trump question is forcing our government to answer,” it said.
The association also alleged sponsorship and protection of jihadist groups, forced marriages that destroy Christian homes, and denial of equal opportunities as part of a sustained pattern of persecution.
It urged the Federal Government to acknowledge these realities and set up a credible, independent inquiry led by courageous and impartial Nigerians to investigate the allegations.
“The killings in Benue and Plateau states, where there is no evidence of theft or criminality, reveal a scorched-earth campaign targeting Christian communities. The persistent killing of pastors in Southern Kaduna, the neglect of dangerous roads, and the half-hearted measures in Borno all prove that there is knowledge of the truth but no political will to confront it,” the statement added.
SKCLA also called on churches in Nigeria to speak out and demand that the government provide a level playing field for all religions to practice freely.
“The Church is not speaking enough, and the government is not properly advised despite the many Christians in public office,” it said.
While acknowledging the Kaduna State Government’s initial steps toward reform and peaceful coexistence, the group urged that these efforts grow into a model of fairness and justice for the entire North.
“As a nation, we must face ourselves in the mirror. Sometimes, only external forces, like Trump’s bold stance, can make us confront our reflection since we appear incapable of doing so ourselves,” the group noted.
The statement concluded with a call for introspection by both Nigerian and global leaders.
“In spite of his many contradictions, Trump has become, perhaps, a hand of divine correction, compelling nations to look inward. Britain, too, must share in this reflection, for it bears part of the foundational errors that have kept Nigeria divided.
“Whether one calls it external interference in a sovereign nation or not, something must challenge the recklessness of African leaders who continually mortgage the future of their people. Africa still has a chance to rise, and that rebirth must begin with Nigeria.
“Our leaders must act, whether our plundering politicians are ready or not—for time is running out. The moment of reckoning is now,” SKCLA stated.