The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has raised concerns bordering on national security, religious freedom and institutional discrimination.

This happened during a strategic interface with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja which was attended by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

In a 14-point communiqu? signed by the Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, and Secretary-General, Bishop Mohammed Naga, CAN commended the NSA?s openness but warned that ongoing spate of insecurity, marginalisation and systemic bias against Christians in the North could inflame tensions and truncate the nation?s fragile peace.

The communiqu? identified inflammatory religious messages, particularly by some clerics, as a major trigger of ethno-religious crises, calling for urgent sensitisation and regulation of religious preaching across faiths.

The Christian body also decried the misuse of social media to spread falsehoods and inciting content, urging the government to equip security agencies with digital tracking tools to identify and prosecute offenders.

It expressed grave concern over the increasing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), warning that failure to resettle and rehabilitate victims of violence could entrench a dangerous cycle of trauma and retribution.

They commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children but urged that its mandate be expanded to include rehabilitation, conventional education and adoption initiatives.

On the reintegration of former Boko Haram militants, CAN said current processes are flawed, noting that some reintegrated fighters had turned into threats in their host communities.

The group insisted on robust deradicalisation protocols before reintegration.

Equally troubling, CAN said, is the denial of access to land for building churches, discrimination in appointments, admissions into tertiary institutions and forceful conversions of underage Christian girls under the guise of marriage.

These acts, the leaders warned, are eroding national trust and violating constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and association.

They called on the Federal Government to investigate and address these violations, warning that silence or inaction could escalate religious tensions. (Daily Sun, excluding headline)

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