Pope Leo XIV (L) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Despite they President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in Rome honoring Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to his inauguration as the Catholic Pontiff, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a leading human rights and research group based in Nigeria, has rejected it.
The organisation said the invitation was unmerited given the growing religious violence under his leadership.
Intersociety, which promotes freedom of religion, civil liberties, and good governance, released the statement on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria. The group said over the past two years of President Tinubu’s administration (from May 2023 to May 2025), an estimated 15,640 Christians have been killed and 14,600 others kidnapped by jihadist groups across the country. Out of those abducted, at least 1,460 are believed to have died in captivity.
The group argued that both Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, failed to take action against the persistent violence and persecution of Christians, especially in Northern Nigeria. This inaction, they claimed, has led to Nigeria becoming one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians.
Intersociety criticised the Vatican’s invitation and said the inclusion of top Catholic leaders such as Archbishops Lucius Ugorji, Ignatius Kaigama, Alfred Martins, and Bishop Mathew Kukah in the official delegation was disappointing. They said such associations could weaken the church’s ability to speak out boldly against the killings and destruction of Christian lives and properties.
They further warned that the Nigerian Presidency might fund the clerics’ trip, which could raise suspicions about their independence and create concerns that they are being used to protect the government’s image while ignoring the ongoing crisis facing Christians.
Intersociety stated that Catholic communities in Nigeria had lost thousands of churches, schools, and even entire dioceses to jihadist attacks since 2009. These attacks have reportedly led to the forceful occupation of Christian farmlands and over 70% of the forests in the country, especially in Benue, Plateau States, Southern Kaduna, and other areas.
They also highlighted that over the last 16 years, radical groups like Boko-Haram, ISWAP, and jihadist herdsmen had violently targeted Christian communities, resulting in the displacement of around 40 million Christians across many northern States.
The organisation shared detailed statistics on Christian populations affected in States like Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa, and others, accusing the government of turning a blind eye to these atrocities.
Intersociety maintained that the invitation to President Tinubu was not only undeserved but a moral failure, especially as the violence continues unchecked. They called on the Catholic Church and its leaders to take a firmer stance in defending persecuted Christians in Nigeria.
