On ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre

B100353/2026

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

(2026/2800(RSP))

having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on or around 22 June 2026 heavily armed assailants attacked Kawel village, Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, killing at least 20 civilians, with local civil-society sources reporting 23 deaths; whereas reports indicate that the attackers struck a police post, a government clinic and residential areas, killing patients, caregivers, a woman in labour, a clinic attendant, a pastor and other civilians;

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 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 criminality, extremist activity, climate pressures and persistent impunity;

whereas the Nigerian Constitution protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion; whereas the Nigerian authorities have the primary responsibility to protect all citizens, prevent further attacks, ensure accountability and rebuild public trust;

Strongly condemns the massacre in Kawel village and all attacks against civilians, including predominantly Christian communities, religious leaders, schools, clinics and places of worship;

Expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and its solidarity with all communities affected by violence in Plateau State and across Nigeria;

Calls on the Nigerian federal and Plateau State authorities to conduct a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the Kawel massacre, including any reported failures by security forces to respond to distress calls, and to bring all perpetrators and accomplices to justice;

Urges the Nigerian authorities to strengthen the effective protection of vulnerable communities, improve early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, and ensure that security operations comply with human rights and do not fuel further intercommunal tensions;

Calls for urgent humanitarian assistance, psychosocial support, medical care and safe, voluntary and dignified return or relocation options for displaced persons, with particular attention to women, children, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and religious minority communities;

Stresses that freedom of religion or belief is a universal right; calls on the Nigerian authorities to prevent and address hate speech, incitement to violence, forced displacement, forced conversion and attacks against religious communities, and to promote intercommunal dialogue and reconciliation;

Calls on the EU, the EEAS and the Member States to raise the protection of civilians, accountability, freedom of religion or belief and support for affected communities in their dialogue with Nigeria, including through the upgraded EU-Nigeria partnership, the human rights dialogue and development cooperation;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Nigerian Government and National Assembly, the Governor of Plateau State, ECOWAS and the African Union.