Ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre

P10_TA(2026)0268

PE783.408

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 Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas in June 2026, a brutal armed attack on civilians in the Kawel village, Plateau State, caused dozens of deaths among the local Christian community, widespread injuries, and infrastructure damage, reflecting the tragic intersection of ethnic-religious tensions and resource conflicts;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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

7. 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 and all persecuted religious communities 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 VP/HR, and the Government and Parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.