Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Jerusalem — In his Christmas message from the Holy Land, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a strong condemnation of ongoing violence and religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria, calling for an immediate end to attacks and displacement of religious communities across the country. His remarks, delivered on 24–25 December 2025, have drawn international attention to the escalating humanitarian concerns facing vulnerable populations in parts of Nigeria.
Speaking in a widely shared video message, Netanyahu described the persecution of Christians — as well as adherents of other faiths — as intolerable and unjustifiable, urging that such violence must stop without delay. “The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated,” he said, explicitly citing attacks and militant displacement affecting Christian communities in Nigeria and demanding, “that too must end now.”
Netanyahu contextualised his comments within larger regional and global concerns about religious freedom, contrasting the situation in Nigeria with his portrayal of Israel as a safe haven for Christians in the Middle East. He noted that Christians in Israel “can practise their faith with full rights and in total freedom,” a rarity, he said, in surrounding countries where Christian communities have declined due to intimidation and persecution.
Highlighting the plight of Christians in parts of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and territories under Palestinian Authority control, Netanyahu warned that religious violence and forced displacement undermine human dignity and threaten the survival of long-established faith communities. Using Nigeria as a focal point in his message, he reiterated that all forms of violence against civilians, irrespective of religion, are unacceptable and must be addressed by both national authorities and the international community.
The prime minister’s remarks come amid a backdrop of intensified global debate around incidents of communal violence and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in parts of the country’s Middle Belt and northern regions, where armed groups have carried out repeated attacks on villages, places of worship, and civilian populations. International advocacy groups and some foreign political figures have characterised these attacks as targeting religious communities, especially Christians, and have called for stronger responses from both Nigerian authorities and foreign governments.
Netanyahu’s message also underscored the broader theme of religious coexistence, urging respect for freedom of worship across societies and calling on leaders to protect minority groups. In addition to condemning direct physical attacks, he spoke of the importance of preserving the cultural and spiritual traditions of communities under threat.
While the Israeli prime minister’s comments focus on Christian communities, his statement also stressed that persecution “of members of any religion” is unacceptable, implicitly including all faiths subjected to violence and displacement. His address reflects Israel’s longstanding diplomatic positioning as a nation committed to protecting religious minorities and promoting freedom of belief, a theme he reiterated in his annual Christmas outreach.
The Nigerian government has faced ongoing pressure from domestic and international actors to enhance security measures and safeguard all citizens amid a complex array of security challenges, including banditry, insurgency, and communal clashes that have affected people of diverse faiths and ethnic backgrounds. President Bola Tinubu, in his own seasonal message, has emphasised Nigeria’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and the need for unity, calling on citizens to reject violence and uphold peaceful coexistence.
Netanyahu’s intervention on behalf of persecuted communities abroad comes against a backdrop of other international responses, including diplomatic statements and proposed resolutions by lawmakers in different countries urging action to protect religious minorities in Nigeria. These developments have contributed to heightened international focus on the security and human rights situation in Africa’s most populous nation.
As his message continues to circulate globally, observers say Netanyahu’s remarks may intensify calls for cooperative engagement between Nigeria and the international community to address patterns of violence and insecurity affecting civilians, particularly those vulnerable on account of their religious identity.
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