The incessant stories on insecurity in Nigeria, especially the northern part of the country is a case of a people faced with tyranny, banditry and insurgency. The people have continually cried for a leader who will stand and speak their mind in defense of peace, truth and justice.
In response to the growing herders/farmers conflict across the country, the Federal Government proposed the rural grazing area (Ruga) as a one-cap-fit-all solution. However, the response that greeted the proposed solution rendered it dead on arrival. The southern part of the country, especially the middle belt region vehemently opposed the Ruga settlement plan, which to a larger extent portrays lack of trust between the government and the citizenry.
Nigeria, particularly the north-eastern region, has been the target of a sustained Islamist terrorist onslaught for many years, leading to massive human casualties, loss of properties running into billions of Naira, and destabilisation of socio-economic, cultural and religious activities. Since the hostilities started, a major target of these attacks has been Christians and churches. However, it can be argued that Boko-Haram activities in the northeast in the recent past know no religious boundary; as both Christians and Moslems have been on the receiving end of the terrorist group.
In response to the level of insecurity up north, the church in Nigeria has designed several plans aimed at curtailing the attacks on Christians. In diagnosing the remote and immediate causes of the attack on the church, many have suggested that the church and by extension, Christians, stand-up in defense of their faith while others highlight the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in the restoration of peace and healing of affected communities.
Some analysts and social commentators have also argued for a broad-based and multi-pronged response including political and legal options and vigorous advocacy at reaching a lasting solution to maintain the peace in Nigeria.
But, what should be the response of the church at the growing rate of killings in the north looking at the ethno-religious nature of northern Nigeria. However, in finding a more practicable solution, the convener of Macedonia Initiative and General Overseer of Living Water Unlimited, Reverend Ladi Thompson in a new book titled, ‘The Kingdom Gospel’s solution to Boko Haram War’, examines both the scriptural and circular/legal approaches the church can take in response to insurgency in Nigeria.
Thompson, while presenting the book at the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State directorate of social security outreach/inter-governmental relations (SSO/IGR) programme tagged, ‘National Unity and Development: The Role of the Church’ with special focus on the kingdom solution to Boko Haram war, held at the Vineyard Christian Centre, Lagos, noted that at the initial stage, many Nigerians did not consider the group as a terrorist organisation.
“At that time, Nigeria had not yet fully understood what the Boko Haram stood for and many well recognised Nigerian Moslems were rooting for the terrorists publicly. Sitting at the hearing, I could not recognise the Nigeria that witnesses like Ambassador Johnny Carson and Professor Darren Kew were describing as they appealed passionately on behalf of the terrorist group,” Thompson wrote in the book.
However, in responding to what the church response to insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency should be, Bishop Anietie Etukudo of Livingproof Bible Church Ogba, Lagos, said the church must not fail to call the attention of the government whenever it notices any misgivings in the society. According to him, the church is well represented by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as a representative body of all churches in Nigeria; hence CAN’s position on insecurity stands.
Speaking with BDSUNDAY, Bishop Etukudo opined that since the believers’ weapon of warfare is the prayer, the church must not cease in praying for the nation and its leadership and should not in any way support violence, as it is also expected of the church to always speak out and hold the government accountable for the citizenry.
Sola Idowu, a Baptist pastor with the Ajayi Dahunsi Memorial Church, Lagos shares his opinion, stating that it is important that the Church, the Body of Christ, in Nigeria rise to the occasion by responding appropriately to the ever-growing monster of insecurity in the country.
According to Idowu, it is unfortunate that Nigeria is today basically defined by insecurity occasioned by the activities of the insurgents; Boko Haram, bandits; farmers/herders face-off and kidnappings. “The initial proposed solution of the Presidency to the farmers/herders faceoff, called RUGA, also heightened the tension of insecurity. Thank God, the Federal Government listened to common sense by suspending the programme,” he said to BDSUNDAY.
Thompson in the 138-page book asked the church to redesign its body language in responding to the war of terror. According to him the new war of terror in Nigeria is hydra-headed and should not be confused as a religious war. Thompson however opined that it would be wrong to view the terror war as an extension of the Uthman Dan Fodio jihad. “What Satanic intelligence has done is to mix theology with virulent philosophies to create a hybrid that is deadlier than any crusade or jihad would ever be,” said Thompson.
According to Thompson, the church cannot afford to respond physically since the weapons of the believers’ warfare are not carnal. “There is a wisdom that is better than the weapon of war. This level of wisdom requires faith. This has become a problem because of the encroachment of sense knowledge.
“The church must not embrace sensuous wisdom. It must not rejoice over the death of sinners, it must not reject divine standard of love and must not permit a religious war,” Thompson stated warning the church against getting involved in retaliating to terror, killings and must not neglect faith in God.
In the same vein, Reverend Idowu told BDSUNDAY that when there is a case of serious insecurity in the land, almost every facet of the society is adversely affected. He listed five ways that he strongly believes the church can respond to insecurity and other violent attack on Christians.
According to Idowu, the church must get informed, educate members on the issues, avoid retaliation, engage the government, and then look unto God, urging Christians to pray for divine intervention to keep and deliver the church from dangers.
“Get Informed: The Church will be best positioned to respond to these cases of insecurity only if she thoroughly understands the details of the matter at hand. Members Education: The Church will do well to educate her members on all of these cases so that they do not fall victim;
Avoid Retaliation: Part of the education must be that Christians are encouraged not to retaliate especially in cases of religious intolerance in some Northern parts of the country. One calls to mind the case of the immediate past acting chief justice of Kebbi State whose rights were denied because she is a Christian. It must however be said that Christians should also be educated on how to protect and defend themselves without violence.”
“Engage the government: The Church, with one voice must engage the Government at all levels as well as all agencies of the government, particularly the law enforcement agencies. Such encouragement must be proactive not just an ill-informed criticism that will make the church look or sound political. Again, such encouragement should not necessarily make the Church enemy of the State. Rather, such encouragement should help proffer solutions.
“Look unto God: We must remember that ultimately the Church is in battle against the kingdom of darkness. This therefore, demands that we always remember to look unto God through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in prayers. The Church should pray more and complain less. We must make use of our knees more than any other thing. Remember that all power belongs to God,” Idowu said.
SEYI JOHN SALAU
