The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned in the strongest terms the recent violent attacks and killing in over 10 villages of Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of Plateau state on Christmas Eve.
A signed statement by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stated that the burning down of houses, worship centres, and destruction of properties worth millions of naira is not only a criminal act but also a direct assault on Nigeria’s shared values of peace, unity, and mutual respect.
According to the statement, “Such acts have no place in our society and must not be allowed to prevail,” expressing heartfelt condolences over the horrifying incident.
“We mourn with the families, friends, and communities who tragically lost their loved ones in the villages of Ruku, Hurum, Darwat, Mai Yanga Sabo, NTV, and Lisham Kwahasnat community. We stand with you at this time of grief, and our prayers go out to you for comfort and strength. The loss of lives, including those of our brethren in the Baptist Church in Chirang village, is a devastating blow to our collective peace and unity.
“We condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms. The burning down of houses, worship centers, and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira is not only a criminal act but also a direct assault on our shared values of peace, unity, and mutual respect. Such acts have no place in our society and must not be allowed to prevail,” the statement said.
The statement also lauded the swift intervention of the Military and the deployment of a joint police and military task force to restore peace and prevent further lawlessness in the affected communities, while recognizing the efforts of the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang in calling for peace and unity amid such adversity.
The statement urged the security agencies to intensify their efforts in intelligence gathering and proactive interventions to pre-empt and forestall these types of dastardly acts in the future, stressing that citizens deserve to live in peace, and it is high time to move from reactive to preventive measures.