What changed

B100356/2026

P10_TA(2026)0268

European Parliament resolution on the ongoingOngoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre

(2026/2800(RSP))

PE783.408

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,

European Parliament resolution of 9 July 2026 on the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre (2026/2800(RSP))

– having regard to RuleRules 150150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas in June 2026, a brutal armed attack on civilians in the nightKawel ofvillage, 22Plateau JuneState, 2026caused heavilydozens armedof Fulanideaths militantsamong assaultedthe Kawellocal villageChristian incommunity, Bokkoswidespread Localinjuries, Governmentand Areainfrastructure ofdamage, Plateaureflecting State,the Nigeria,tragic murderingintersection upof toethnic-religious 30tensions people;and resource conflicts;

whereas the attackers reportedly assaulted a police post before attacking a medical clinic and the village itself; whereas the victims included patients, healthcare workers, a pastor and security personnel among others;

B. whereas, despite repeated warnings from local communities, churches, and human rights and civil society organisations, the Nigerian authorities have been unable to prevent such attacks, provide adequate protection to vulnerable Christian populations and vulnerable communities in general, ensure timely and effective intervention, or carry out thorough investigations and prosecutions;

whereas, despite reportedly being stationed close by and having received distress calls during the attack, soldiers failed to intervene and only arrived around two hours after the attack had ended;

C. whereas this attack forms part of a wider pattern of violence in Plateau State and the Middle Belt, including attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities, traditional leaders, clergy, schools, health facilities and places of worship;

whereas the massacre forms part of a recurring pattern of mass killings targeting predominantly Christian communities; whereas major attacks have repeatedly coincided with Christian religious observances, including the Palm Sunday 2025 killings in Zikke village and Jos, the April 2025 attacks in Bokkos, and the Christmas Eve 2023 massacres in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi;

D. whereas systemic violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is driven by a complex combination of religious, ethnic and intercommunal tensions, farmer-herder conflicts, land and water disputes, organised crime, extremist activity, climate pressures and persistent impunity;

whereas Christians in Nigeria continue to face severe threat from Fulani extremists as well as Islamist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP); whereas in 2025 a total of 3,490 Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria, more than in all other countries combined;

E. whereas Christians are the most persecuted religious group globally, and the failure to address this persecution undermines the protection of freedom of religion or belief;

whereas freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental human right protected under international law and the Nigerian Constitution;

1. Strongly condemns all violence perpetrated against civilians in Kawel and the wider Middle Belt; particularly deplores the disproportionate impact on women and girls, and firmly denounces the alarming rise in targeted abductions and kidnappings; expresses its deepest condolences to the families of all victims and all those affected by this horrific attack, including the Christian community of Plateau State;

Strongly condemns the massacre in Kawel village in Nigeria; expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity to the affected communities;

2. Urges the Nigerian federal and state authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the Kawel massacre to bring perpetrators to justice and end the culture of impunity;

Condemns in the strongest possible terms the continuing persecution, violence and targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, including recent attacks and abductions on schools in Borno state;

3. Calls on the Nigerian Government to strengthen both counterterrorism operations against armed militants, particularly in the Middle Belt region, and efforts to counter Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province;

Calls on the Nigerian Government to intensify efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the Kawel village massacre and other atrocities against Christian communities;

4. Calls on the Nigerian Government to remedy intelligence failures, improve early-warning sharing, strengthen state-led civilian protection, invest in regional mediation, implement sustainable land management policies, foster food security and address ecological drivers;

Calls on the Nigerian Government to reinforce counter-terrorism operations against Fulani militants particularly in the Middle Belt region, in addition to efforts against Boko Haram and ISWAP; calls for greater security deployments, including the implementation of effective early warning and rapid response systems, alongside enhanced coordination and training, in cooperation with international experts;

5. Supports efforts to set up a meaningful and inclusive national dialogue to tackle the ongoing violence across multiple regions, and underlines the need to address the socio-economic factors linked to these attacks;

Urges the Nigerian Government to effectively address the situation of internally displaced persons by providing adequate temporary shelter and prioritising their safe return to their home communities;

6. Reaffirms its unwavering commitment to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;

Reiterates7. itsCalls unequivocalon supportthe EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief andoutside callsthe onEU theto Nigerianpay authoritiesparticular attention to safeguardthe thisdeteriorating rightsituation effectively;of Christians and all persecuted religious communities in Nigeria;

Calls on the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU to pay particular attention to the deteriorating situation of Christians in Nigeria;

8. Urges the Nigerian Government to address the situation of internally displaced persons effectively by providing adequate temporary shelter and prioritising their safe return to their home communities;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, the governmentsVP/HR, and parliaments of Member States, the Government and National AssemblyParliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Union, and the United Nations.Nigeria.