WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja has called on traditional and religious leaders to take a more active role in addressing the ongoing violence in Plateau State, especially in the Bokkos Local Government Area, where more than 50 residents were recently killed and many homes were set on fire by unidentified attackers. In an interview this morning, Rev. Joseph Hayab, Northern CAN Chairman, condemned the brutal attacks and called for a holistic and united response against the crisis, which he described as a combination of criminality and land-grabbing masked as ethno-religious conflict. “The trouble on the Plateau is not isolated. It’s widespread across many Middle Belt communities,” Hayab said. “People wake up to find strange attackers wiping out entire communities. This is beyond farmers-herders clashes. It is criminal, and we must start calling it what it truly is.” He noted that the violence is fueled by an agenda to displace communities and take over ancestral lands. According to Hayab, fear is used as a weapon to push residents away, leaving their lands vulnerable to occupation by others. “After attacks, people can’t return because of uncertainty. Eventually, strangers take over their land. That’s why we call it land-grabbing,” he explained. Hayab emphasized that the perpetrators—armed with sophisticated weapons—cannot be compared to traditional farmers or herders, and warned against using such labels, which he believes downplays the severity of the crisis. The Northern CAN leader also addressed the perceived religious dimension of the attacks. He acknowledged that assailants often chant religious slogans and that most victims are of a particular faith. However, he cautioned against framing the violence as a religious conflict. “Criminals hide behind religion and ethnicity to divide us. Christians and Muslims are both victims. If we dwell too much on religion, we lose focus on the real problem—criminality,” he said. Hayab advocated for inclusive, grassroots dialogue involving religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth, and women to forge a community-based solution. He commended the Plateau State Government and security agencies for their response but stressed that the burden of peacebuilding should not rest solely on the authorities. “Security personnel cannot be everywhere,” he said. “Faith leaders, traditional rulers, and community members all have a role to play. This is a fight against all of us, and we must work together to win back peace.” He lamented that the repeated violence has stunted development in Plateau and other affected states, with communities in a constant cycle of destruction and rebuilding. Calling for sincerity and unity across faiths, Hayab urged all stakeholders to put aside blame and speak honestly in search of lasting solutions. “We are one family. Let no one give our faith a wrong name. Together, we can stop this evil,” he concluded.
PLATEAU: Traditional leaders are key to ending killings – Northern CAN
