Lagos , Nigeria ( CNN ) -- Nigeria 's Christians are losing faith that the government will protect them from attacks by Islamic extremists and will `` respond appropriately '' to future killings , the country 's leading church group warned Wednesday . In a public message to President Goodluck Jonathan , the Christian Association of Nigeria called the Christmas Day targeting of churches in several cities `` a declaration of war on Christians and Nigeria as an entity . '' The group also criticized its Muslim counterparts for failing to condemn the Islamic militants blamed for Sunday 's attacks , calling their responses `` unacceptable . '' `` The Christian community is fast losing confidence in government 's ability to protect our rights to religious liberties and life , '' its president , Pentecostal pastor Ayo Oritsejafor , said in the statement . `` The consensus is that the Christian community nationwide would be left with no other option than to respond appropriately if there are any further attacks on our members , churches and properties . '' Nigerian official condemns attacks . Jonathan responded with a statement of condolences for the attacks , which the church group said killed more than 50 worshippers , and a call for Nigerians to unite behind the government 's efforts to pursue those responsible . Nigerian authorities have blamed Boko Haram , a fundamentalist Islamic movement that mounted similar attacks the previous Christmas . `` The best thing is for all religious leaders , opinion and traditional leaders , youth leaders and women leaders to come together and assist government , '' Jonathan said . He pledged that his administration `` will surely do more , '' but added , `` The terrorists are human beings . They are not spirits . '' `` They live with us . They dine with us , '' he said . `` We know them . People know them . As long as Nigerians are committed to expose them , we will get over this ugly situation . '' Nigeria 's 150 million people are divided almost evenly between predominantly southern Christians and northern Muslims . Clashes between the two groups have flared periodically for years , but Boko Haram -- which wants to establish a state based on Islamic law in the north -- has stepped up the violence with a series of high-profile attacks in the past two years . The group claimed responsibility for an August car bombing at the building that houses U.N. offices in Abuja , which killed 25 people , and an assault on the town of Damaturu in November that left more than 100 dead . The church group criticized Islamic leaders in the north for what it called their inaction in the face of the attacks , calling it `` unacceptable and an abdication of their responsibilities over their extremist members . '' `` It is on record that most religious , traditional and political leaders in the North have not come out openly to condemn the extremist activities of Boko Haram , '' the group said . `` We hold them responsible for what is happening , because they have not taken concrete steps to check the excesses of their members . '' There was no immediate response to the statement from Muslim groups . But Jonathan called on leaders of both faiths `` to work together , because terrorism is like a cancer to the body -- it starts from somewhere and spread to all the organs of the body . '' Jonathan has led Nigeria since 2010 , becoming acting president that May and winning a full term in April . He has deployed government troops across northern Nigeria in an effort to destroy Boko Haram , a step he told the Christian leaders was overdue . `` At the beginning , if the appropriate response was given then over this , they could n't have developed to this level , '' he said .
Christian leaders say they are ` ` fast ##ing faith '' in the government . They say Muslim leaders ' responses to the Christmas attacks are ` ` unacceptable '' Nigeria 's president calls for unity and action to find those responsible . His government has blamed the Islamic group of Boko Mali for the attacks .