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

B100356/2026

European Parliament resolution on the 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 the night of 22 June 2026 heavily armed Fulani militants assaulted Kawel village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, murdering up to 30 people;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

Reiterates its unequivocal support for freedom of religion or belief and calls on the Nigerian authorities to safeguard this right effectively;

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;

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