The Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter, has called on communities across the state to rise and defend themselves against persistent attacks, as insecurity, forceful conversion of minors and the plight of displaced persons dominated resolutions reached at its maiden leadership retreat held in Miango.
The three-day retreat, which ran from Tuesday, July 7 to Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Miango Rest Home, drew state executive members, local government coordinators, women and youth wings, heads of blocs and other Christian stakeholders.
With the theme “Strategically Positioning C.A.N on the Plateau for the future in the face of contemporary challenges”, the gathering interrogated what organisers described as “myriad of persecution and challenges” facing the church, including banditry, kidnapping and human trafficking.
In a communiqué signed by the State Chairman, Rev. Dr. Dunka Gomwalk, the association said it was worried that insecurity seems to defy solution by continually taking different turns despite efforts by government and stakeholders.
While commending security agencies, CAN insisted communities must rise to the occasion by mobilizing themselves through community policing and vigilante groups to ensure they defend themselves and their communities from invaders, terrorists, marauders and land grabbers.
The body asked government to equip vulnerable communities with appropriate security architectures and to promptly arrest and prosecute perpetrators of attacks.
It also raised the alarm over what it called an influx of strangers operating as hawkers, scrap metal scavengers, and commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders “against state regulations,” urging strict enforcement of existing laws.
CAN condemned any attempt by any set of invaders to confiscate or grab lands by any forceful or violent means and demanded that government recover such lands and rebuild communities for Internally Displaced Persons.
“The number of widows, widowers and orphans resulting from the incessant attacks is alarming and these group of people are often abandoned to face untold hardship, we call on government to care for them while resettlement continues.
On education, the association decried a shortage of Christian Religious Studies teachers in public schools and called for urgent recruitment.
It also “vehemently rejected” calls for the relocation of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, describing advocates of such move as “people who never wanted the progress of the state.”
The retreat expressed concern over rising consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs, demanding legislation to regulate distilling, distribution and consumption, while criminalising harmful substances.
CAN also “condemns in totality” reported cases of forceful conversion and marriage of minors, citing Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, and demanded government’s “urgent intervention” to reunite affected minors with their families.
Linking unemployment to social vices, the association asked government to create a conducive environment for youths, and where jobs are scarce, provide “tangible, visible and sustainable empowerment/skills acquisition programmes.
The church leaders resolved to continue to speak with one voice on issues affecting the state and to hold government accountable through people-oriented policies.
While pledging to work with people of other faiths for peaceful coexistence, CAN vowed to promote godly living and unity of the church” and to continue praying for government at all levels.
CAN at the end of their retreat also visited and donated relief materials such to some displaced in Miango, Bassa LFC to cursion their challenges.
