As the dead corpses of victims of killings by armed herdsmen and insurgents continue and the number of camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) consistently rise, the Christian community within and outside Nigeria has not relented in speaking out against the evil of such actions.
Persecution is not new to adherents of the Christian faith, as it is in fact the stuff of which saints are made. However, with the situation in Nigeria, it is not clear why the attacks, in some cases, in recent times, have been targeted at churches and Christians.
Aside many other attacks, sometimes not reported, just last Tuesday, two priests and 17 worshippers were murdered in cold blood. Barely 48 hours after, while they slept, another attack was carried out on people taking refuge in an African Church.
Following the gruesome pattern the events have taken, in line with the calls by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), as well as other church leaders, the Christian community in Nigeria has reacted to the violence, as well as other killings across the country, condemning the actions.
Benue CAN declares 7-day fast, prayers
The Benue State chapter of CAN called on Christians in the country, most especially, Benue State, not to lose faith. Benue State chairman of CAN, Reverend Apeh Leva, who described the killing of two Catholic priests and worshippers in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state last Tuesday as the highest form of provocation on Christians in the country, said the dangerous dimension clearly amounted to declaration of war against Christians in the country, and advised the Federal Government to do the needful by protecting the lives and property of citizens.
He said the church should continue to pray, noting that the state chapter of CAN had declared seven days of fasting and prayer for God to intervene in the affairs of the nation.
We believe in prayers —PFN
In their reaction, the state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), also noted that the body believed in intensifying prayers, rather than joining issues on a battle field.
The PFN boss, Bishop Mike Angor, also said the association attended a meeting on Friday to decide whether the unit of CAN would join in the nationwide protest directed by CAN.
Where and where necessary, Christians should defend themselves —Archbishop Fape
Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, Archbishop Michael Olusina Fape, who condemned the attacks, said when necessary, Christians might be left with no other option but to defend themselves.
Speaking with TribuneChurch, he said: “Honestly, I think the situation is becoming very worrisome. Benue is an APC-controlled state, and even some other states, where such reckless killings have taken place, are also controlled by the APC. Christians in particular are being targeted and it is very unfortunate. Of course, the Bible doesn’t tell us to hold arms in retaliation for whatever brutish attack on Christians, but I think Christians cannot also continue to fold their arms and watch helplessly, when we have a president who should have made public, pronouncement on this issue, which unfortunately, he has not done. Thank God CAN has been speaking out, but the way things are happening, it’s becoming very worrisome.
“It is going even beyond religious sentiment, as these things also happen in the mosques. So, the question we keep asking is: ‘Don’t we have individuals who are saddled with security issues in this country?’ They were elected to provide maximum security. The president keeps making promises and there are security chiefs all over the country, but they seem helpless as if somebody is remote-controlling them, and not allowing them to do what they should. I think Christians should keep on praying, but, of course, that does not remove common sense. If there is any need for us to defend ourselves where and when necessary, honestly, we should do so.”
FG must wake up to its responsibility —Most Revd Abidoye
Spiritual Father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church worldwide, Most Reverend Samuel Adefila Abidoye, in his remarks, urged the government to be more alive to its responsibilities by making sure that all security agencies were not only adequately armed, but also adequately trained “for this very important task.”
The best form of defence is offence —Pastor Ameh
Senior Pastor of Harvest Time Ministry, Pastor Austin Ameh, in his reaction to the killings said: “The murder of Christians across the country is uncalled for; it has gone on for too long and that could be a reason they should take to self defence. They cannot just fold their arms and watch these herdsmen kill them anyhow.
“The best form of defence is offence and if you don’t take a drastic action to stop something, it will continue. The reason for self-defence now is that the government is not doing anything about the killings and I don’t see it coming to an end. If Christians can rise up and defend themselves, I think is not too bad.”
While President, United Aladura Churches and Doyen of Celestial Churches Worldwide, Superior Evangelist S.O. Banjo, noted that the church was holding a meeting on the issue as of press time, but promised to get back, Senior Pastor, Blossom Hill Assembly, Pastor Lawrence Oladele, who addressed insecurity in general, said: “The insensitivity of government is another burden, because they are doing little or nothing to curb the menace rocking the country. It is not Christ’s teaching that we should adopt self defence and there is need to preach more of love, despite the fact that it is not easy. The option of self defence will definitely lead to mass killings and invariably spread to other parts of the country.”
Killings, senseless attacks of violence —World Council of Churches
Meanwhile, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, in a statement on the WCC’s website, while condemning attacks around the world, including Nigeria, during the past week, noted that the killings were uncalled for.
He said: “Across the world, people who were living their daily lives – standing in line to register to vote, innocently walking in places that should be safe, attending worship – have been lost to their families and their communities. We condemn these senseless acts of violence. Let us strengthen our resolution to pursue peace and justice for all, dignity for all, the freedom to lead full lives for all.”
Tveit and the WCC fellowship held prayers for those who lost loved ones and called for ecumenical solidarity in the face of such attacks. “We mourn for the families of the victims, and for the cities and communities that lost so much so quickly,” he said.
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