Conveners of the Cross Campaign, Yomi Kasali and Lawrence Achidume, say recent killings in Plateau State have given their Easter parley “a sharper urgency” to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The clerics said the gathering, initially planned to assess the state of the nation, now carries “a prophetic edge that cannot be ignored” following fresh bloodshed in Jos North.
Gunmen killed more than 20 people in Angwan Rukuba, prompting authorities to impose a 48-hour curfew.
Residents, citing distrust, refused to release victims’ bodies, raising concerns over transparency and justice.
Speaking at the event in Lagos, Plateau-based cleric Isa El-Buba described the attacks as “systematic,” alleging an ongoing “genocide.”
“Nigeria is at a dangerous crossroads. Our nation is bleeding,” he said. “This is not herders-farmers clashes. This is a deliberate act of terrorism.”
El-Buba claimed attackers issued threats ahead of the Sallah period and later carried them out.
“They said Christians on the Plateau should prepare for a massive genocide, and they executed it,” he said.
He also criticised security agencies, alleging inaction despite intelligence.
“They know where the terrorists are, but there is no decisive action,” he said.
The cleric warned that violence is spreading across northern states, displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods.
He called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security and establish state police.
“If there is political will, state police can be implemented immediately,” he said, urging authorities to investigate alleged collaborators.
The Cross Campaign also brought together senior clerics, including Mike Okonkwo, Ayo Oritsejafor and Felix Omobude, who called for stronger moral leadership amid rising violence.
They urged the Church to speak out and demand accountability, warning that continued silence could deepen public distrust as insecurity persists across parts of the country.
