Christian leaders in Nigeria have risen against the ceaseless bloodbath in the country, particularly the killing of Christians, demanding an end to it.
The leaders, at different fora, also asked Christians and residents of the affected areas to defend themselves since government could no longer do so.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have in the last few years witnessed unprecedented killings, especially in the northern part.
The killings are perpetrated by terrorists, bandits and Fulani herdsmen.
Besides, there are also cases of kidnapping witnessed daily in the southern part of Nigeria, especially on the highways.
In the last two months, there has been an upsurge of violent attacks in Southern Kaduna in the north west of the country with scores killed.
The Southern Kaduna area is dominated by Christians, whose villages have been repeatedly invaded by the killers, who are allegedly Muslim fundamentals.
Catholic Bishops
Catholic bishops rose from a meeting on August 11, asking the Nigerian government and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to urgently end the incessant killing of Nigerians.
The clerics, under the aegis of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), said in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, that their hearts were bleeding over the ongoing killings in Southern Kaduna.
The communique was signed by Most Reverend Augustine Akubeze and Most Reverend Camillus Umoh, president and secretary of CBCN, respectively.
“Our hearts are bleeding, and we are more troubled when we hear of the massacre presently going on in Southern Kaduna,” the group said.
“We want all the people suffering the incessant attacks in Southern Kaduna to know that all Catholics in Nigeria are praying for them.
“We call on the federal government and the government of Kaduna State to bring a complete stop to the killing of innocent people.
“The loss of the life of any Nigeria does not help to further the agenda of any religious ideology or the ambition of any politician.”
CBCN also said the killers must be brought to justice, stating that there can never be peace and development where justice was absent.
It said, “Where there is no justice or justice is not seen to be done, there cannot be peace. Where there is no peace, there cannot be development. “Any government, state or federal, that wants peace must work for justice for everyone.”
The group added, “We, the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, have been following the recent events in Nigeria closely. We continue to hear of insecurity and unabated acts of increasing terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
“We are tired of this situation. We do not want any politician to politicise the killings of Nigerians. There should be one response from everyone, and that is: the killing must stop.
“There will never be a sustained development built upon bloodshed of innocent people brutally murdered by religious fundamentalists without any recourse to justice for the victims.
“We need not remind Nigerians that the present federal government came to power, promising Nigerians, the eradication of corruption, a guarantee of security to life and property, and rapid growth in the economy.
“The creation of jobs, and an enabling environment that engenders growth of the private sector; a significant increase in the supply of electricity to Nigerians, affordable and quality healthcare to Nigerians, and the revamping of the educational sector were the promises the government continues to make.
“Many Nigerians, irrespective of political party affiliation, will affirm that these promises have remained a far cry.”
Pentecostal Bishops
Similarly, the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of the 19 Northern States in Nigeria, on the same day demanded an end to the killings in Southern Kaduna.
The Forum made the demand at a press conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Chairman of the Forum and the founder of Dominion Chapel International Church, Archbishop John Praise, said there was a need to fortify the security arrangements in the area, which had witnessed mass killings in the past one month.
The Forum also said the government should ensure prompt arrest and prosecution of the killers and their sponsors.
It also called on the government to compensate those who incurred losses and relatives of the dead ones.
It asked the government to mobilise, engage traditional and religious institutions in Southern Kaduna for effective consensus building among the various socio-cultural and economic groups.
The Forum canvassed effective sensitisation of the people of the area to enable them know their responsibilities toward one another as well as to the government.
It asked the government to revisit the age-long socio-economic and political disagreements among the various groups so as to reach and equitable, acceptable and lasting solution.
The group called on people of good conscience to speak up and condemn without reservation the killing perpetrated on a daily basis against the people of southern Kaduna.
“We must move beyond rhetoric and demand decisive actions from those whose duty it is under the constitution to protect the defenceless citizens,” the Forum said.
“The situation had assumed a dangerous dimension of ethnic cleansing, going by the methodology and clinical decimation of the population of the indigenous people with mindless ruthlessness.
“At the last count, communities have been attacked by armed herdsmen, alleged to be of Fulani extraction while many have been killed and rendered homeless.
“The audacity of the recent attacks and the inaction of the relevant security formations to bring the perpetrators to justice suggest a wicked collaboration, double standard and sabotage in certain quarters.
“And this gives the impression that a sinister script is being acted out to overrun the people and forcefully annex their ancestral heritage in all ramifications.”
The Forum said though it was not out to blame the government since it had made repeated efforts to stop the killings.
“Though it is lamentable that no arrests and prosecution have been recorded to date, we are joining our voices to the patriotic cries of concerned citizens and groups nationally and internationally to strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai and relevant government functionaries to do more,” it said.
South East Bishops
Earlier in the week, Catholic Bishops in the south eastern part of Nigeria, asked the country’s citizens and residents to defend themselves against attacks by bandits, herdsmen and kidnappers.
The bishops, who met in Okigwe, Imo State, South East Nigeria, said in a communique at the end of the meeting, lamented the deteriorating security situation in the country, and that it was time Nigerians began to be vigilant and defend themselves.
The communique titled “Defend Yourselves, Pray” and signed by the Chairman, Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna, and Secretary, Augustine T. Ukwuoma.
“Bearing in mind that no economic or education endeavour can thrive in a volatile and unsafe environment, the security and safety of the nation at large and Igboland in particular, deserve special attention.
“Kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, incessant killings, which have continued unabated, cast serious doubts on the willingness and capability of our security outfits to rise up to their constitutional responsibilities.
“Rise up in prayer to God in vigilance and in legitimate self-defence, for the right to life, to our homes and to our lands that God-given.”
The clerics enjoined the governors, as chief security officers in their states, to protect the lives of the people, homes and lands.
They specifically asked the governors of Abia and Imo States to protect their domains against the herdsmen, kidnappers and other violent criminal terrorising the residents of the states.
The bishops acknowledged that nothing had shaken the world as the COVID-19 just as they thanked God for saving people from the deadly virus.
They asked government at all levels to ensure adequate provisions of basic amenities such as running water.
The bishops said, “Particular attention should be paid to improving our poor healthcare facilities, making provision for more testing centres with affordable services and enough personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers.
“The pandemic has also impacted negatively on our educational system. Our schools at all levels have been closed for months. With everybody at home, there has been an increase in domestic violence, abuses and all sorts of crimes.
“The inadequacy of our educational system and formation have been laid bare. Some climes have tried to bridge the gap through online education. Unfortunately, we lack the basic infrastructure to cue in, except in a handful of places and school.
“But this is too few, too selective and too expensive to provide for an integral human forum, which is the goal of education. This is a challenge for all stakeholders in education. The billions of naira embezzled regularly could be gainfully used in meeting these challenges.”
Kaduna CAN begins fast
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria, convoked a month-long prayer meeting to ask God to avenge the killers in southern Kaduna.
The interdenominational meeting, which is tagged “Black Sunday” began on Sunday August 9 at the Evangelical Winning All Church (ECWA), Narayi High Cost Estate, Kaduna, and it will be held every Sunday.
At the meeting, the attendees who wore black attire prayed for peace in Nigeria, Kaduna State and southern Kaduna.
Also, during the meeting, the church leaders took turns to pray for the restoration of peace in all troubled areas in the country.
Delivering a sermon, the President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (HEKAN), Reverend Amos Kiri, who drew his reading from Psalm 46:1-11, asked the attendees not to be tired of praying to God about the situation in southern Kaduna.
Kiri called on the government to do more to protect the people just as he asked Christians to condemn the killings.
“Insensitive government and leaders must wake up from their slumber, the government must listen to our cry,” he said. “The killings in Southern Kaduna must stop; enough is enough; and what is good for the goose should be good for the gander.”
Also speaking, the chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, Reverend John Hayab, called on Christian leaders like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor Paul Enenche to speak up against the killings in southern Kaduna.
Open Door USA, had in its report in January, ranked Nigeria 12th among 50 nations of the world where it is difficult to practise in Nigeria.