CSMN Accuses Government of Complicity in Terrorism After Palm Sunday Massacre in Jos

By Tgnews Reporter

The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has described the killing of 34 Christians in Angwan Rukuba, Jos City, on Palm Sunday, 29th March 2026, as “Black Palm Sunday 2026” and accused the Federal Government of acting as an accomplice to terrorism.

In a strongly worded press release issued on 31st March 2026, CSMN expressed anguish over the attack and extended condolences to the families of the victims. The group said it is praying for God’s comfort and strength for those who lost loved ones.

The organisation stated that the attack fits a clear pattern of targeted violence against unarmed Christians in northern and Middle Belt Nigeria. It rejected claims of “herder-farmer clashes,” noting that the assailants attacked no farmland and herded no livestock.

CSMN described the incident as “purely Islamist terrorism based on Islamic jihad,” in violation of Sections 38(1) and 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The group recalled similar attacks on Christians during major festivities over the years, such as the coordinated Boko Haram assaults on Christmas Day 2011 in Madalla near Abuja, Jos, Gadaka and Damaturu that killed over 41 Christians, the suicide bombing on Easter 2012 that killed at least 38 Christians in Kaduna while targeting an ECWA Church, the vehicle that rammed into a Boys Brigade procession along the Gombe-Biu Road on Easter 2019 killing 11 Christian children, the Fulani militia attacks on Christmas Eve 2023 in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Lardi in Plateau State that claimed no fewer than 259 Christian lives, the multiple village assaults in Plateau State on Easter Monday 2024 that killed 39 Christians on the first day and 29 more in follow-up raids, the dozens of Christians slain by Fulani militia in Benue State during Christmas 2024, the night attack in Bassa LGA of Plateau State on Palm Sunday 2025 that killed 56 Christians including children, the deliberate truck ramming into a Christian procession in Biliri LGA of Gombe State on Easter Monday 2025 that left six dead, and the Christmas 2025 attack plans that were fortunately foiled by a United States strike on terrorist locations in Sokoto State.

CSMN said the latest Jos attack highlights the Federal Government’s shoddy handling of the war on terror. The group pointed to several reasons for accusing the administration of complicity.

It noted that the government acted swiftly to stop a military coup in Benin Republic but has failed to decisively tackle terror attacks inside Nigeria. Instead of eradicating terrorism, the government has allegedly absorbed repentant terrorists into the Nigeria Army and other security agencies, some of whom are accused of aiding active terrorists.

The movement also criticised the fact that inflammatory statements by Sheik Abubakar Gumi supporting terrorists have gone unchecked.

Finally, it condemned the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, for recently describing terrorists as “prodigal sons” who should be welcomed back, a comment the group said ignored biblical principles against shedding innocent blood.

The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria condemned both the terror attacks and what it called the apparent complicity of the present administration.

It also called the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, to account for what it described as poor leadership over Muslims in Nigeria. As the traditional ruler of the Fulanis and President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, the Sultan has the power to restrain Fulani terrorists, the group said.

CSMN urged the international community to intervene in what it described as the ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria, noting that more people have been killed here by ethnoreligious insurgents than in Palestine.

The movement sympathised with all suffering Nigerians and accused the government of failing to fulfil Section 14(2)b of the Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.