BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern States of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has visited the Gashish District of Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State where suspected Fulani herdsmen left hundreds of persons dead on June 23, 2018.
Led by its Chairman, Reverend Yakubu Pam, the Christian body said the visit was “for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation that was clearly a planned attack on the Church.”
Addressing the natives and grieving members of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), RCC, Gashish, after inspecting the burnt church building and Pastor’s residence completely destroyed in the attack, Rev Pam told them that “the entire Church in Nigeria is standing with them, and the Christendom all over the world has taken notice of their plight and persecution.”
He assured the traumatised natives that CAN will do its best to draw global attention to the persecution of Christians in that part of the country while also coordinating systematic efforts against anti-Christ forces out to uproot the Church and debase the Gospel.
The CAN chairman encouraged the people to remain steadfast and continue resisting all attempts by forces of darkness to over-run the land, for “all must come to the knowledge and accept that Jesus is Lord”.
The CAN delegation lauded the people for their courage in staying put; protecting their land and cultural heritage despite the aggressors’ steady menace, even as they promised to relate with the appropriate authorities to ensure all those taking solace in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps returned home and resume their normal lives.
Presenting some food items and a cash donation to the people, Reverend Pam said the token is to encourage them to remain strong and faithful; assuring that CAN would do more in the days ahead.
According to him, the Association would also assist in coordinating and ensuring the effective channeling of all humanitarian interventions from volunteer groups to the affected people.
Responding, the protocol officer of COCIN Regional Church Council, Gashish, Reverend Dyelman Polycarp Davwar, insisted that recent attacks on 11 villages were planned, and accused the security personnel charged with securing the area of complicity and having fore knowledge of the attacks.
Rev Davwar also said of all the eleven villages attacked, only one, Kai village, was not burnt down by the rampaging killer-herdsmen, desperate to sack the natives and take over the land.
He commended CAN for the visit and its intervention, especially being the first by any group to the affected areas since the ugly incident.
The CAN delegation later visited and presented food items to the IDPs at the COCIN Church, Heipang, in Barkin Ladi local government area.
Also, the team was at the new Government House on a condolence visit to Governor Simon Bako Lalong where Rev Pam urged the government to beef up security in the area, and ensure the IDPs are returned to their villages as soon as practicable.
