The European Parliament called for an end to the escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing a recent massacre where jihadist Fulani militants killed over 20 Christians in an overnight raid on 22 June.
The urgent resolution was debated last Wednesday and passed on Thursday in an overwhelming vote of 510 to 1 in support,
The attack on Kawel village which killed the pastor of a local church along with members of his congregation is among the latest in a long pattern of targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“No community should have to bury its pastor and its children because they follow Christ. The massacre in Kawel is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a devastating and well-documented pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria,” said Sean Nelson of the legal advocates Alliance Defending Freedom.
“We commend the European Parliament for continuing to hold Nigeria accountable to protect the Christians and religious minorities who have faced relentless violence and persecution for far too long, particularly in the Middle Belt region where the persecution of Christians is most devastating.”