The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) North Zone, has reacted to December 24’s statement by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, strongly condemning reported mass killing of Christians in Nigeria, describing it as a welcome development and another strong voice to the growing global angst against burgeoning militant Islamic attacks on Nigeria’s Christian population.
In his Christmas message yesterday – Wednesday, December 24 – Netanyahu described reported mass killing of Christians in Nigeria as unacceptable, emphasising that attacks against Christians or members of any religious group must never be tolerated.
Urging an end to the constant displacement of, and violence against, Christians by armed Muslim bandits in Nigeria, the Israeli Premier highlighted the imperative of religious freedom and tolerance in countries around the world, holding Israel up as the only country in the Middle East where Christians can freely practise their faith and celebrate their traditions without fear.
Netanyahu contrasted Israel’s approach with incidents in the region where Christian communities face intimidation and persecution.
According to him, while Israel’s Christian population continues to grow, the number of Christians in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and areas under the Palestinian Authority has steadily declined due to systematic discrimination.
He cited Bethlehem as an example, lamenting that the Christian population there has dropped from 80% to 20% since the city came under the Palestinian Authority control.
The Israeli leader also drew attention to acts targeting Christian symbols, mentioning that Jerusalem officially distributes Christmas trees annually, while a recent tree in Jenin’s Holy Redeemer Church was reportedly burnt.
He said: “From Jerusalem, I send warm greetings to our Christian friends around the world. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from here, the Holy Land, Israel, the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is thriving.
“Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practise their faith with full rights and in total freedom, where Christian pilgrims are embraced with open arms and are so deeply appreciated, where Christians can celebrate proudly their traditions and openly do so without any fear.
“In Jerusalem, the city municipality every year officially distributes Christmas trees. It’s been doing so for two decades. By contrast, a few days ago, in the Palestinian town of Jenin, Palestinians burnt a Christmas tree in the Holy Redeemer Church.
“That’s the difference. Israel stands up for Christians across the region, wherever they face widespread intimidation and persecution.
“While Israel’s Christian population is growing, the Christian population in countless areas across the region has been dwindling due to systematic discrimination and oppression. This has happened in Iraq. It’s happened in Syria. It’s happened in Lebanon. It’s happened in Turkey. And it’s happening in the Palestinian Authority.
“The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, used to have 80% Christian population. That’s when we were there. When we left and gave it to the Palestinian Authority, it has since dwindled from 80% to 20%.
“The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated. And Muslim militant displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria, that too must end. And it must end now.
“I’m sending Israel’s Christmas blessings to our Christian friends around the world. And I ask you, know that Israel will always stand with you.”
Netanyahu’s forceful message against mass killing of Christians in Nigeria by Islamic militants came weeks after the United States President, Donald Trump, a close ally of Netanyahu, in a post on his Truth Social account, instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible actions in Nigeria.
Trump had accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to what he described as the killing of Christians across the country, warning that the United States would immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the attacks on Christians continued.
He also indicated that America might intervene militarily to eliminate what he called “Islamic terrorists” responsible for the killings.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and 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,” Trump wrote.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
Reacting to Netanyahu’s statement, the Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. John Hayab, welcomed it as another strong voice to the campaign championed by the US President, Donald Trump.
Although some people might read meaning into the statement as a fallout of the Israel/Hamas war, Hayab argued, “it’s time we worry less about who mentioned our problems, and focus on how we could achieve the needed solution especially against the rising killing in communities in Nigeria.”
“Nevertheless, it’s an additional wake-up call to the government to increase their onslaught against the non-state actors who are engaged in killing Nigerians and destroying communities,” he added.
Rev. Hayab, however, admitted that the Federal government has taken necessary action lately, and the results seem to be on the positive side.
“For me, I have confidence in the capacity of those managing our security system, notably, the Service Chiefs, National Security Adviser (NSA), Minister of Defence, and several others. They have shown capacity and determination to work. It’s left for us, Nigerians, to give them the benefit of the doubt and also support them,” he said.
“I am particularly with the recent statement the President during the presentation of 2026 budget. At the event, he declared that anyone involved in the killing and kidnapping is a terrorist and should be treated as one. That declaration was another booster to the fight against insecurity.
“The declaration has given the security operatives the push to attack and treat the criminals as terrorists. I suggest and encourage they sustain the momentum so that we could achieve the desired result.”
