Christians in Nasarawa State Join Nationwide Protest, Call on FG to do more
Eric Kuju
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been called upon to take more serious and proactive measures towards checking and possibly ending the activities of Boko Haram in the country.
The call was made by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Nasarawa State, Archbishop Joseph George Masin when he led the Christian community in Nasarawa State on Sunday (February 2, 2020) to protest the resurgence of violence particularly targeting Christians in Nigeria.
Archbishop Masin, while speaking during the protest, berated the Federal Government for not doing enough to curb the menace of the terrorists in the country.
He said: “I served in the Nigeria military and I can tell you that Boko Haram is not mightier than the military. So, I wonder why we are still talking about Boko Haram after all these years. I think the Federal Government can do better than it is doing now.”
He then called on Christians not to lose faith but to continue to trust in God who can provide protection from every kind of trouble.
Recently, the terrorist group Boko Haram murdered the Chairman of CAN in Michika LGA of Adamawa State whom they had earlier abducted. His killing was just one out of many that occurred in January 2020.
This worrisome trend informed the decision of the national body of CAN to declare three days of fasting and prayers from January 31 to February 2, 2020.
In Nasarawa State, the days of prayers and fasting were observed and climaxed with a prayer service which held at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) LCC Central Lafia.
The service was attended by Christians from all over the State and was officiated by the State CAN officials as well as officials of the youth wing (YOWICAN) and women wing (WOWICAN) of CAN. Some senior clergymen in the State were also present.
In a brief charge during the service, Archbishop Joseph Masin expressed worries that the gathering of Christians in Nigeria was shrinking in number.
He said that the unity of the church in Nigeria is of utmost importance as it is only a united church that can survive the darts and arrows being hurled at it by the devil.
In the course of the service there were various segments of prayers. Reverend Akolo Luke, the Reverend in charge of the host church, led the prayers for peace; peace in families, peace in the church and peace in other sectors of the society.
Reverend Akolo Luke also led in the prayers for special protection for pastors whom he said have become the main target for terrorists and kidnappers.
The Secretary of the Women Wing of CAN in Nasarawa State, Mrs Juliana Akwadne who read from Psalms 25, led in the prayers for security agents for grace, wisdom and strength to be effective in the fight against terrorists.
On his part, the President of the Eggon Youth Movement (EYM), Comrade Daniel Yaro Anyuabaga prayed for peace, unity and love among the various tribes in Nasarawa State and in Nigeria at large.
Rounding up the session of prayers, the Bishop of the Lafia Anglican Diocese, Rt. Reverend Godwin Adeyi Robinson who spoke on the importance of coming together as brethren, read from Psalms 133.
He said: “The Bible says whatever we bind on earth is also bound in heaven.
“The Bible also says one will chase one thousand and two will chase ten thousand. You know that is no longer mathematics. You will expect that two will chase two thousand.
“There is need for Christians to be united. It doesn’t matter how you worship in your church. We were all saved by the same blood. We shouldn’t allow cracks in our ranks that will allow the enemy come in.”
