By Ebi Kesiena
The Chairman of the Australian Committee for NATO Enlargement, Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn, has declared a “Red Wednesday” observance, joining a global movement to draw attention to what he describes as the growing persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Fehlinger-Jahn made the declaration in a post on X while reacting to the deadly attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The assault, carried out on Tuesday by suspected terrorists, left the resident pastor and several worshippers dead, while many others were abducted and taken to unknown locations.
Local reports indicate that the assailants stormed the church during a worship session, opening fire indiscriminately before fleeing with multiple congregants. The incident has intensified concerns over the rising wave of religiously targeted violence in parts of Nigeria, especially attacks on rural Christian communities.
In his reaction, Fehlinger-Jahn condemned the killings and abductions, describing the recurring assaults on Christian worship centres as “unacceptable” and demanding stronger international attention to the crisis.
“I got this video sent of an Islamist attack on a church in Nigeria. Today is #RedWednesday, the global awareness day against persecution of Christians,” he wrote, urging global leaders, rights groups, and faith-based organisations to speak up against what he termed a pattern of escalating hostilities.
“Red Wednesday” is marked annually by Christian advocacy groups across several countries to highlight the plight of persecuted religious minorities. Fehlinger-Jahn’s intervention, however, adds a diplomatic dimension to the campaign, as he called for coordinated international pressure to curb targeted violence in Nigeria and ensure greater protection for vulnerable communities.
The Kwara State attack comes amid ongoing national debates over insecurity, banditry, and the government’s response to religiously motivated violence. Although authorities have launched investigations, no arrests have yet been confirmed.
Fehlinger-Jahn’s comments have since sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians urging global partners not only to condemn such attacks but also to support efforts to strengthen local security, promote interfaith dialogue, and ensure justice for victims.
