Kanu’s Lawyer Urges Pope Leo XIV to Speak Out on Killing of Nigerian Christians

ABUJA — Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to incarcerated IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed to Pope Leo XIV to publicly condemn what he described as the “spiraling slaughter of thousands of Nigerian Christians by Islamic terrorists.”

In a post addressed to the Pope on his official X handle, Ejimakor wrote:

“Dear Pope Leo XIV: A lot of lives will be saved if you speak out against the spiraling slaughter of thousands of Nigerian Christians by Islamic terrorists. Your papal voice/ex-cathedra authority carries a lot of global weight. Thank you, Your Holiness (@Pontifex).”

Ejimakor’s appeal comes amid continued reports of attacks on rural communities in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other Middle Belt states, where armed groups have targeted farming villages. Religious leaders and rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns that Christians are disproportionately affected, though the federal government maintains the violence is largely farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and land disputes.

The Vatican has previously spoken on insecurity in Nigeria. The late Pope Francis condemned killings in the country on multiple occasions and called for dialogue and protection of all citizens. Pope Leo XIV, elected in 2025, has not yet issued a specific statement on Nigeria as of press time. Likewise the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the Vatican have not responded to the post at the time of this report.

Ejimakor has frequently used his platform to comment on security and human rights issues in Nigeria, alongside his legal advocacy for the jailed IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.