Some prominent Christian leaders have raised concerns over the continued killings of Christians in Northern Nigeria. They said Christians in the North need the empathy of their counterparts in the South to keep faith in God.
Speaking at a concert to raise funds for victims of insurgency in Northern Nigeria, organised by the Foundation of Truth Assembly Church in Lagos, the leaders, including Pastor Yomi Kasali, convener of the concert; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church; Rev. Yusuf Biniyat, Senior Pastor of the ECWA Church in Kaduna; and Prophet Isa El-Buba, President of EL-Buba Outreach Ministries, among other ministers, said awareness needed to be created on the plight of victims of insurgency in the Northern region.
In his opening remarks, Kasali said politicians’ polarisation of the body of Christ in the country after the 2015 general elections contributed to some of the country’s insecurity crisis.
He said: “It is regrettable that some Christians remain aloof from their responsibilities toward their brethren in the north. It is no longer fashionable to stay on the fence but to take a step to aid those who have lost their breadwinners because of ongoing insurgency and banditry in the north.
“We have taken measures to raise funds to ensure that most families/victims are catered for. The children who lost their fathers will go back to school, be fed and get Medicare through the funds. We cannot do beyond this as a body, but we will continue to pray that this challenge will be halted soon.”
Oritsejafor regretted the bloodshed in the North and urged the people to defend themselves if nobody is ready to defend them. “If nothing is done to stop this thing, we will just be gathering widows. We will be paying school fees, is that what the church will do forever? So, the whole church in the north will just be filled with widows and orphans.
“The issue is very political because the truth is, I will say it to you very clearly, very plain and simple. Defend yourself if those who are supposed to defend you will not defend you.
“The political class, if they cannot do what they are supposed to do, to defend these people, whatever they can find, wherever they can find, whatever they can find, they should defend themselves.
“Plateau State is full of warriors. Who were those who fought in the Civil War? Plateau, Benue and Taraba states are those that fought the war, and I’m talking to you raw. Defend yourself. If nobody will defend you, what are you going to do? You just sit down and die?”
On his part, Biniyat urged people to come to the aid of victims with relief materials and society rebuilding schemes. He said the situation is becoming alarming and sympathetic, and this calls for urgent attention from all who are concerned.
Also speaking, El-Buba gave a gory tale of how communities were constantly attacked by bandits/insurgents. “We need strong support of our brethren, not just sympathy, to restore peace in the region.
“Even if men kill this physical body, they cannot kill us, because we cannot die. So, what we are doing, and that is why I had to make a sacrifice to squeeze out this time for the sake of our brothers and sisters in the North.
“And every one of you that is sitting here, there is something you can do, it is not repeating the trash, it is not repeating your brother, but to become his substitute. For this purpose, the Son of God left his glory above, and he came to earth to become a substitute for us.
“He took our shame and he gave us his glory. We, the Southern church, it is enough for you to keep looking down, but know that we are one blood, one shepherd, one saviour, one deliverer, one holy ghost and one anointing,” he said.
The cleric said that the northern region had lost more than 200 people in the last two weeks to insurgent attacks.
The concert also had in attendance some widows from the northern region, who narrated how they lost their husbands to attacks and the harsh reality they face taking care of the children alone.
The evening concert featured music performances by prominent Nigerian gospel artists, including Mike Abdul, Kaestring, Abbey Ojomu, Wisdom Chigozie and others, who rendered songs to stir state actors to end insurgency in the country.
