By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna A high-powered delegation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing the 19 Nor...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
A high-powered delegation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, has visited Benue State to commiserate with the government and people over recent attacks in Yelewata and other communities, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives and displaced numerous families.
Led by the Northern CAN Chairman, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, the delegation was received at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi. The team comprised CAN chairmen, secretaries, and youth and women leaders from across the northern region.
In his address, Reverend Hayab described the mass killings as a national tragedy requiring urgent attention and honest national dialogue. He criticized the prevailing narrative that refers to the crisis as a "herders-farmers clash," calling it misleading and detrimental to meaningful solutions.
“This is not a herders-farmers crisis, and we must stop describing it that way,” he said. “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.”
Hayab emphasized that although CAN had previously issued public condemnations of the attacks, the visit was essential to show solidarity with a region known as the "food basket" of the nation. He assured the people of Benue that the Christian body would continue to speak truth to power and engage national leaders on critical issues affecting justice and peace in Nigeria.
“Beyond our prayers, we will continue to speak truth to power and engage national leaders on sensitive issues of national importance until meaningful change is achieved,” he added.
In his response, Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Northern CAN delegation, saying their visit brought comfort and spiritual strength during a time of grief.
“As I was shaking hands with all of you and feeling your warmth, what ran through my mind was this: ‘I am because you are, and you are because I am.’ That is Christianity. That is the message Christ preached — love,” the governor said.
Describing the visit as a divine gesture, Governor Alia likened the presence of the delegation to Christ sitting with the people of Benue in their suffering.
“You are not just sitting here. 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,” he added.
The governor lamented the recurring loss of lives in the state, stressing that even one death is too many. He urged religious leaders to continue serving as moral compasses and to uphold the state in prayer, adding, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
The visit concluded with special prayers for the victims, their families, and for lasting peace in Benue State. The CAN delegation reaffirmed its unwavering support for the government and people in their quest for justice, healing, and national reconciliation.
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