Christian youths under the aegis of the Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja against what they described as persistent cyber attacks and online bullying targeting religious leaders in Nigeria.

The protesters gathered at the Unity Fountain in Nigeria's capital city, carrying placards with messages such as "Stop Online Bullying of Pastors" and "Respect Religious Freedom" to express their grievances over the alleged coordinated campaign against Christian leaders.

Adama James Paul, the convener of the group, addressed fellow protesters, condemning what he termed as a growing trend of defamation, hate speech, and character assassination targeting prominent men of God on social media platforms.

"We are deeply disturbed by the persistent campaign of defamation and slander being waged against our faith and its representatives," Paul stated. "These online bullies represent a dangerous form of discrimination that cannot be tolerated in a democracy that values religious freedom and diversity."

The group specifically mentioned activist Omoyele Sowore and his alleged collaborators, accusing them of attempting to incite religious conflict in the country through their online activities.

"Our investigation has revealed that these attacks are part of a deliberate attempt to undermine our unity and sow seeds of discord among different faith denominations," Paul alleged during the protest.

The CCYF called on the Nigerian government, media organizations, and civil society groups to take a firm stand against what they described as religious intolerance in the digital space. They also urged Nigerians of all faiths to reject attempts to polarize the nation along religious lines.

In a separate development, the youth group commended the Federal Government for launching the Forest Guard initiative, describing it as a proactive measure to enhance security in rural areas across the country.

"The creation of this force is a step in the right direction," the group acknowledged, while emphasizing "the importance of equipping these guards with the tools and resources they need to confront armed criminals hiding in our bushes."