LAGOS, Nigeria – Three Catholic Bishops have visited victims of recent attacks in Plateau State to show solidarity, pray with them and donate food and other items.
Archbishop Matthew Ishaya Audu of Jos and Bishops Michael Gobal Gokum of Pankshin and Philip Davou Dung of Shendam – three dioceses in the state – visited Dec. 10, hoping to cushion the hardship of the attacks, at the during which gunmen killed several people, injured dozens, and destroyed farmers’ homes and crops in late November.
“We are here to tell you that you are not alone,” Audu said. “We have also come to pray with you that God heal your wounds and grant complete peace to this land, the state and Nigeria at large.
“The attacks and killings are beyond human comprehension; so only God can come to our aid,” he said.
Gokum advised people to forgive their abusers.
“You must not (seek) revenge; you must not retaliate, as it will only make things worse,” the Bishop advised.
The bishops’ visit came a day after prominent Christian and Muslim leaders condemned what they described as rising waves of killings in Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam issued separate statements condemning the killing of 16 people at a mosque in Niger State on December 8. They also condemned the killing of 23 innocent travelers by terrorists in Sokoto State and numerous other attacks on citizens by criminals.
Reverend John Joseph Hayab, regional vice-president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the organization feared “terrorists have taken their crime against Nigerians too far” and called on the federal government and governors northern states to take strong action. measures “to put an end to this evil once and for all”.
“CAN calls on security agencies to end unhealthy competition among themselves and work together in unity for the common good of all Nigerians. Our security agencies have everything they need to defeat these terrorists.
Jama’atu Nasril Islam said: “It is forbidden to unjustly kill human life, let alone burn it. And…the government is basically in place to protect and prevent human life from being killed.
He reminded Heads of Government that Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution affirms that human life is sacred.
