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Northern CAN tells members to defend themselves, says terrorists won’t stop Easter celebrations
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Christians in northern Nigeria to be more united and proactive in protecting and defending themselves against continuous terrorist attacks.
The admonition follows the Palm Sunday attack on a university community in Plateau State, Nigeria, killing at least 30 people, and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
The gunmen according to reports arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba district at about 8pm, shooting at people indiscriminately.
It was the latest bloodshed in a region scarred by religious extremism especially against the Christian population in Northern Nigeria.
North central Nigeria, also called the Middle Belt, the location of Plateau State, is known for deadly terrorist and herders attack against Christian communities.
In its response to the recent attacks, the Nigeria Defence Headquarters stated it had placed troops on nationwide alert in view of the Easter celebrations.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, who addressed newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja assured Nigerians of heightened vigilance and tightened security during the celebrations.
Meanwhile, in a statement to PUNCH, the CAN Chairman of the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Joseph Hayab, urged members to be more united in protecting themselves, stating that Christians in the region would not submit to fear despite the killings and insecurity.
“These killers are not spirits. These killers are human beings; they may have got some upper hand, but when our people really organise themselves, a time will come when you see that the person who is chasing you, you are chasing him back.
“Unless and until all of us start organising ourselves to chase those who have been chasing us, they will torment us for the next 200 years. If we are no longer afraid of our attackers, what have we done? Have we been able to defend ourselves? Must we say we are defending ourselves since we are not afraid of the attackers?
“Since 2009 till today, they have been tormenting us every time it is Easter and Christmas; they will deny us the joy of celebrating. They are telling us that they will attack us. What kind of a thing is that? So, should we stop everything and go into hiding? No, every church leader should tell his members that enough is enough of this rubbish,” the CAN Chairman said.
He stated that the group would not expose all of its plans, while expressing anger at government’s inability to stop the killings,
“If we start telling everything we know, we will just help the enemy of the church to triumph. But what we are simply saying is that we are not happy with the killings, but we will not allow the killers to intimidate us and stop us from celebrating Easter the way it should be celebrated.
“We are angry with the killings; we are angry with the inability of government and security services to stop the killings, but we are also calling on Christians not to be deterred because this whole war is psychological. By the time we give in and stop doing what we’re supposed to do spiritually, they have succeeded in what they want to do.
“Do you know why they are attacking places of worship? It is so that we will stop going to places of worship, and we’ll stop doing what we are doing. So, as leaders, if we don’t tell our people and encourage them to stand firm, we’re giving in to a cheap blackmail.”
The CAN Chairman added that the security situation and consistent attacks, especially during Easter celebrations, were a serious test for the government, noting that the troubling situation would not break the resolve of the Christian community.
