The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) wishes to express concern about the attitude and response of some Christians in southern Nigeria to the ongoing Islamist insurgency in the North and Middle Belt regions of the country. The Islamist insurgency has assumed genocidal and disastrous humanitarian dimensions. While some Christian bodies have sought to respond by taking relief to the affected brethren, the overwhelming lack of concern by a large section of the Church is disturbing.
The CSMN is deeply troubled by information in the public domain that some Christian denominations are receiving and sharing campaign materials for the re-election efforts of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Considering the poor performance of the Tinubu administration with regards to the security and welfare of Nigerians, particularly the failure of the administration to curb the murder of Christians by Islamist insurgents, it is deeply worrisome that some Church leaders would become campaign agents for such an administration.
In one video report, the head of a ministry was seen sharing cartons of gifts to congregants, with the photograph of President Tinubu on the cartons. In another news item, members of a denomination are seen “dedicating” a campaign bus from the Tinubu re-election team. So far, none of the ministries have refuted the reports.
The Lord commands in John 13:35 thus, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria wonders about the kind of love that the Church leaders who fraternize with the APC-led government are showing to their dying brethren in the Middle Belt and in the North of Nigeria.
In very strong terms, the Movement condemns every Church leader supporting the APC-led government. While the CSMN acknowledges the constitutional guarantees for freedom of association, it expects Christian leaders to exercise ethical restraint in associating with agencies and individuals that demonstrate hostility to Christians. The APC-led government has sparked concerns that strongly suggest their active supervision, endorsement and promotion of Islamist terrorism in Nigeria. Most of the victims of that disaster have been followers of Jesus Christ. It therefore seems contradictory that any leader of the Christian faith would be found supporting such a political structure or its candidate.
The CSMN wishes to alert Christians in the relatively “safe zones” in Nigeria that those murdering their brethren in the Middle Belt and in the North of Nigeria equally hate them and are coming for them. The Movement wonders how those apparently unconcerned Christians would feel if they were the ones in IDP camps while their Christian brethren were throwing parties with their oppressors. The Lord commands, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
The Christian community should remember that CSMN established the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation for getting resources and reliefs to persecuted Christians in the Middle Belt and in the northern region of Nigeria. That Foundation has been supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria since 2020. At this time, the focus of the Church should be on supporting members of the family of God being persecuted, not for some of its leaders to be strengthening and encouraging the attackers of their brethren.
The CSMN uses this medium to appeal to all Christians to donate a minimum of N500 monthly to the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation in support of persecuted Christians in Nigeria. In the last quarter of 2025, out of the millions of Christians in Nigeria, only a few made donations: 146 in October, 128 in November, and 213 in December. The overwhelming lack of concern in the Nigeria Church over the welfare of persecuted Christians is worrisome. This lack of concern flows from the leadership of the Church.
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it ...” (1 Cor. 12:26).
God bless Nigeria.
Bosun Emmanuel
CEO/Executive Secretary
9th April 2026