The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern States and the FCT has decried the recent killings in Benue State, describing the tragedy as a national emergency requiring urgent intervention from the Nigerian state.
The Northern CAN stated this when a high-powered delegation, led by its Chairman, Rev. (Dr).John Joseph Hayab, visited the state to commiserate Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi.
Speaking during the visit, Rev. Hayab rejected the common narrative of herders-farmers clashes as the root of the violence in the state, insisting that the situation is far more complex and dangerous.
“This is not a herders-farmers crisis, and we must stop describing it that way,” Hayab stated. “If you don’t make the right diagnosis, you will never administer the right treatment. We must call these killings what they are and face the situation with honesty and courage.”
He said the visit was a demonstration of solidarity with Benue State, which he described as the food basket of the nation and a vital part of Nigeria’s stability.
“Beyond our prayers, we will continue to speak truth to power and engage national leaders until meaningful change is achieved,” he added.
In his response, Governor Alia thanked the delegation for the visit, calling it a divine gesture that has brought spiritual strength to the state.
“As I was shaking hands with all of you and feeling your warmth, what ran through my mind was: ‘I am because you are, and you are because I am.’ That is the message Christ preached—love,” he said.
Governor Alia said the visit was not merely symbolic, adding, “It is Christ who is sitting on each of the chairs you occupy. That is how much this visit means to me and the good people of Benue.”
Rev. Fr. Alia described the killings as a grave assault on human dignity and called for national reflection and collective action to end the violence.
“One life lost is already one too many. When the numbers keep rising, you wonder what is going on,” the governor lamented.
He urged the Christian community to remain steadfast in prayers for peace in Benue and across the country.
The visit ended with prayers for the victims, their families, and the state, just as the delegation reaffirmed CAN’s commitment to sustained advocacy, justice, and peacebuilding efforts across the region.
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