A coalition of civil society organizations has issued a pressing appeal to the Federal Government, urging immediate action to safeguard the welfare and security of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable communities across Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year period.
A Grim History of Christmas Violence
In a statement endorsed by Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu and 24 other groups, the coalition highlighted a tragic pattern of violence that has marred the festive season in Northern Nigeria, particularly the Middle Belt, for over a decade. They pointed to the devastating Christmas Day twin bombings in 2010 at Ungwan Rukuba and Gada Biyu in Jos, Plateau State, and the terror attack at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, on 25 December 2011 as pivotal events that triggered widespread grief and displacement.
The statement recalled subsequent attacks, including the assault on Goska community in Southern Kaduna's Jema'a LGA on 24 December 2016, which claimed about 20 lives and forced hundreds to flee. More recently, the coalition noted the 2023 Christmas attacks in Bokkos and Barikin Ladi, Plateau State, where over 212 people were killed and 10,000 displaced.
Recent Incidents Heighten Fears for 2025
The groups emphasized that the threat remains acute. They cited the 2024 Christmas attack in Anwase, Gboko, Benue State, where 46 worshippers were killed, adding 6,800 people to the over 150,000 already displaced in the state. Alarmingly, in the lead-up to the 2025 festivities, 20 worshippers were kidnapped from an ECWA Church in Ayetorokiri, Bunu-Kabba, Kogi State.
"This pattern of Christmas season mass atrocities across different parts of the Middle Belt of Nigeria needs to be addressed and prevented," the coalition asserted, stressing the need to sever the link between faith-based insecurity and domestic terrorism.
Concrete Demands for Government Action
The coalition presented a multi-point demand to authorities. Firstly, they called on President Bola Tinubu to grant assent to the bill for the domestication of the African Union Kampala Convention, which would establish a rights-based framework for managing internal displacement.
They also urged the government to:
- Deploy economic empowerment programs to reduce the number of people in protracted displacement.
- Immediately mobilize the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) to provide essential supplies and physical security to IDP camps.
- Facilitate the voluntary return, local integration, or resettlement of displaced persons with adequate support for community reintegration.
The groups implored security agencies to implement special measures to guarantee the safety of communities, churches, and travellers during the festive season. They expressed hope for urgent, sustainable action to address the protection crisis facing displaced Nigerians and prevent further tragedies.
