The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has warned that faith-based violence continues to threaten national unity and peaceful coexistence.
As reported by Daily Post, Hayab made the remarks in Akure, Ondo State, during a condolence visit to the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade. The visit followed the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which killed over 40 worshippers during a Sunday Mass.
He described the Owo massacre and similar attacks in parts of the country, particularly in the North, as a national tragedy.
The visit, according to Hayab, aimed to personally identify with the diocese, encourage survivors and families, and reaffirm the solidarity of Northern Christians with communities affected by terror attacks nationwide.
Hayab advised governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of lives and ensure justice for victims by taking decisive action against perpetrators, saying peace and national cohesion cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and impunity.
He opined that no Nigerian deserves to die on account of his or her faith, stressing that what happened in Owo concerns every Nigerian, noting that similar violence has repeatedly occurred in the North.
Former CAN Chairman in Ondo State, Rev. Dr. Ayo Oladapo, praised Bishop Arogundade as a unifying figure for Christians, while Rev. Fr. Anslem Ologunwa highlighted the care extended to victims, including scholarships for about 60 children of the deceased. Bishop Arogundade thanked Hayab for the visit, describing it as a strong gesture of empathy and unity, and appealed to government authorities to ensure that citizens can live together in peace.
(Daily Post)
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