The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, Rev John Joseph Hayab, has stated that Nigeria’s failure to defeat terrorism is not due to lack of soldiers, funds or intelligence, but the deliberate protection of powerful sponsors hiding behind politics, religion and loyalty.
He calls on President Bola Tinubu to stop merely chasing gunmen and instead arrest, prosecute and expose those funding and shielding terrorists, warning that supporting any leader at the expense of the country is “foolishness, not loyalty.”
By the time terrorists finish their work, Hayab says, they do not ask for religious identity cards.
“They kill Christians, Muslims, children, clerics and farmers alike,” the CAN chairman said in an interview with The Sun.
That reality, according to Hayab, should have put an end to the endless religious debate over insecurity long ago.
Reacting to the recent statements by United States President Donald Trump acknowledging that Muslims, like Christians, are victims of terrorism in Nigeria, Hayab said the position only confirms what has always been obvious.
“That has been my position all along: both Christians and Muslims are being killed,” he said.
According to him, the killing of Christians was never in doubt, but denial from some quarters initially slowed honest conversations.
“It was reported, it reached President Trump, and he reacted. That part is not contestable. What changed was the broader recognition that the violence has expanded. The killers are now killing Muslims too,” he noted.
Hayab described Trump’s evolving position as evidence of political sensitivity rather than bias.
“Trump first said Christians are being killed. Now, after more reports, he is acknowledging that Muslims are also being killed. That shows he is a sensitive and reasonable leader. His focus is not religion; his focus is to get rid of terrorists,” Hayab noted.
He stressed that terrorist groups in Nigeria started by targeting Christians before turning on Muslims who rejected extremist ideology.
“These terrorists began by going after Christians. But they also go after Muslims, especially those who fear God and reject their twisted beliefs. What matters is not who is being killed; what matters is that the killings must stop,” the CAN chairman reiterated.
‘Religion Argument Is A Dangerous Distraction’
Hayab warned that the politicisation of religion has distracted Nigeria from confronting terrorism decisively.
He said: “The Christian-Muslim argument is a diversion,” he said. “Are there terrorists in Nigeria? Yes. What do we do with terrorists? We go after them.”
He criticised the government’s approach, saying terrorists have been treated too gently. The CAN leader said, “Unfortunately, our government has been treating them with kid gloves. Trump’s actions have shown that terrorists should not be pampered. They must know someone is ready to confront them.”
‘Why Terrorism Persists Despite Huge Security Votes’
Asked why insecurity continues despite years of massive security spending, the cleric blamed silence and soft responses from some religious leaders.
“Some unpatriotic religious leaders failed to speak firmly against extremists in the past. Some treated terrorists as if they were their children. But terrorists are nobody’s children. They do not belong to any religion,” he said.
Hayab warned against confusing religious identity with genuine faith.
“Just because someone is named John or Mohammed does not make him a true Christian or Muslim. If someone kills in the name of a religion, that religion must publicly condemn him,” Hayab said, adding that failure to renounce extremists allowed Boko Haram to grow.
“When Boko Haram started, some people defended them. That attitude allowed them to become the menace we see today. Silence only emboldens extremists,” he said.
Recalling a time when Nigerians travelled freely across the North, Hayab lamented the scale of deterioration.
He added, “There was a time you could travel at night from Kaduna to Kano, Kano to Maiduguri, Maiduguri to Adamawa without fear. Can we say that today? No.”
He said the loss of that freedom is the real tragedy of insecurity.
‘Terror Attacks Are Being Politically Exploited’
Hayab disclosed that intelligence reports suggest planned attacks on Christian communities to manipulate political narratives ahead of elections.
“These criminals know that attacks on Christian gatherings provoke loud reactions. They exploit that to heat up the polity,” he said.
He warned churches to be vigilant. “They want to infiltrate our programmes to provoke reactions. Their aim is political, not religious. We must not fall into their trap,” the CAN chairman noted.
On claims by former security chiefs that some insecurity was orchestrated by political actors, Hayab said leadership must rise above loyalty.
“If someone helped you politically and later turns around to recruit terrorists to destabilise your government, you must go after him,” he said.
He added, “Even if you rule for one day, it is better to rule well than preside over a country where people are being killed.”
According to him, the real solution lies in exposing financiers of violence. Hayab added, “Bandits and terrorists are not doing this for free. They have sponsors. Arrest them. Prosecute them. Expose them. Once sponsors are exposed, the game is over.”
Dismissing concerns about Nigeria’s cooperation with the US, Hayab said intelligence sharing is essential.
“If our military can be trained in America or England, we can work with them to defeat terrorism. That is not losing sovereignty,” the cleric said.
He criticised reactive governance, saying, “Why wait for terrorists to strike before responding? If you have intelligence, dislodge them first.”
Hayab acknowledged widespread distrust between citizens and government, warning that it fuels desperation.
“People don’t trust leaders, and you can’t blame them. When citizens fear that reporting crimes will expose them, they keep quiet,” he said.
Hayab urged the government to rebuild trust, but also reminded Nigerians of their responsibility.
“Nigeria does not belong to the president or governors. Nigeria belongs to us. We placed them in office on trust,” he said.
Hayab was particularly blunt about political loyalty, stressing, “I respect my president and my governor. But I will never support any leader at the expense of the country. Supporting a leader while the nation suffers is not loyalty; it is foolishness.”
He warned against the culture of worshipping leaders.
“Nobody tells leaders the truth anymore. That is why they keep repeating mistakes,” the CAN leader said.
Recalling his experience during the Nasir El-Rufai administration, he said, “I confronted him with facts when he was wrong. He accepted them. That is what leadership accountability looks like.”
‘Silence Is Betrayal of the Country’
Hayab said CAN’s role is to awaken citizens’ consciousness. “We are telling Nigerians: you are not spectators; you are partners in progress,” he said.
He concluded with a warning: “You only protect what you own. If governance is truly yours, you will not allow it to fail. Silence is not loyalty. Silence is betrayal of the country.”