According to a report by Punch Newspapers on Sunday, November 9, 2025, former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle, reflected on the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency, recalling how the extremist group openly declared war on Christians and anyone who opposed its ideology.
Reverend Ayokunle explained that Boko Haram’s violent campaign in northern Nigeria was not only an attack on national security but also a deliberate attempt to eradicate Christianity and sow religious division in the country.
“They even issued a statement at the time, ordering all Christians in the North to vacate, declaring that they would wipe out anything un-Islamic. What, to them, could be more un-Islamic than Christians and the Church? They also said any Muslim critic or Muslim who opposed their cause would be wiped out because such a person had aligned with infidels. They were clear about their goal and determined to exterminate Christianity and Christians,” Reverend Ayokunle stated.
He noted that the Christian community endured immense suffering during that period, with many churches destroyed, families displaced, and thousands of innocent lives lost to the insurgency.
Despite these challenges, he commended the resilience of Nigerians who refused to abandon their faith or communities.
Reverend Ayokunle further urged Nigerians to continue promoting peace, unity, and mutual understanding among all religious groups, emphasizing that extremism and intolerance have no place in a progressive society. View, More,
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