The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has warned Nigerians against falling into what he described as a deliberate plot by terrorists to ignite religious conflict in the region.
Hayab said the recent attacks in parts of northern Nigeria were aimed at pitching Christians and Muslims against each other, urging Nigerians to see terrorism as a common enemy rather than a religious issue.
Naijaonpoint reports that the CAN leader gave the warning during a get-together with journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, January 10.
According to Hayab, there are strong indications that terrorist groups, allegedly sponsored by faceless interests, are targeting Christians in some North-Central states, including Niger, Kwara and Kogi, as part of a wider agenda to destabilise northern Nigeria.
He said such attacks were deliberately designed to “steer the problem” into a religious crisis.
“We must warn our people that we will not be divided by these actions,” Hayab said.
“Instead, we must remind our security agencies and the government to step up and defeat this common enemy.”
The CAN chairman stressed that the killing of any Nigerian, regardless of religious or ethnic background, should be seen as a national tragedy.
“If one life is lost in Nigeria, it is a Nigerian life that is lost,” he said.
“Violence against any group diminishes the country’s shared humanity.”
To further drive home his message of unity, Hayab referenced Islamic teachings, noting that many Muslim leaders had repeatedly reminded him that the Qur’an strongly condemns the killing of innocent persons.
“Muslim leaders often remind me that the Qur’an teaches that killing one person is akin to killing all of humanity,” he said.
“These are religious teachings we must return to, whether we fully understand them or not.”
He added that if such teachings were taken seriously, Muslims themselves would rise to confront and reject violence committed in the name of religion.
“If this teaching is taken seriously, then Muslims themselves must rise and take ownership of this issue,” he said.
Hayab called on Nigerians of all faiths to expose anyone who commits violence under the guise of religion, stressing that silence only emboldens criminals and extremists.
“Whoever kills a fellow Nigerian under whatever name or excuse must be exposed,” he said.
“That is how we give our faith a good name and stop enemies of progress from tarnishing us, either as believers or as a region.”
The CAN chairman also rejected any notion that one group could force another out of northern Nigeria, insisting that coexistence was not optional.
“Nobody is going to chase anybody out of this region,” he declared.
“Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with me or not, we will remain here together.”
Hayab urged residents of the North to embrace unity and make the best of what he described as their shared destiny, warning that division would only serve the interests of terrorists and enemies of peace.
According to him, only collective resistance, mutual understanding and cooperation among Christians and Muslims would defeat terrorism and preserve the stability of the region.