The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned a tragic incident that claimed the lives of residents of Plateau State on Christmas Eve.
CAN, in a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, mourned with the families that lost their lives in the tragic incident that occurred in the villages of Ruku, Hurum, Darwat, Mai Yanga Sabo, NTV, and Lisham Kwahasnat community in Wase LGA.
“We stand with you at this time of grief, and our prayers go out to you for comfort and strength. The loss of lives, including those of our brethren in the Baptist Church in Chirang village, is a devastating blow to our collective peace and unity.
“We condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms. The burning down of houses, and worship centres, and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira is not only a criminal act but also a direct assault on our shared values of peace, unity, and mutual respect. Such acts have no place in our society and must not be allowed to prevail,” the statement said.
The Christian apex body commended the intervention of the military and the deployment of a joint police and military task force to restore peace and prevent further lawlessness in the affected communities.
“We recognize the efforts of State Governor Caleb Mutfwang in calling for peace and unity amid such adversity.
“However, while appreciating these immediate responses, we urge the security agencies to intensify their efforts in intelligence gathering and proactive interventions to preempt and forestall these types of dastardly acts in the future. Our people deserve to live in peace, and it is high time we moved from reactive to preventive measures, CAN said.
“We believe in the unity and strength of our nation. We acknowledge the resilience of the people of Plateau State and the nation at large. We must reinforce this unity and resilience in the face of such adversity. Let us shun all forms of violence and embrace the peace and unity our nation desperately needs.
“In this season of love and giving, let us remember the victims and their families in our prayers and by reaching out to them with relief materials. Let us extend our empathy and support and commit to building a peaceful and prosperous Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.
“May the peace of the season dwell in our hearts and homes, and may God bless Plateau State and our dear nation, Nigeria”, the statement added.