In the shadow of a Palm Sunday massacre, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a bold call to the army, not with weapons, but with resolve.
Recall that over 20 lives were shattered in Ungwan Rukuba, Jos-North in Plateau State, when attackers struck, leaving bodies strewn and survivors reeling just days before Easter. Fears gripped the residents, as the Defence Headquarters scrambled troops nationwide, placing them on high alert.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-Gen. Michael Onoja, addressed the nation from Abuja, vowing heightened surveillance. “We have intensified efforts so citizens can celebrate Easter without fear”, he assured during the monthly briefing.
Yet, amid the military’s promises, CAN’s voice rang louder with defiance. Chairman Joseph Hayab, overseeing 19 northern states and the FCT, told newsmen that Christians must organise against their human tormentors.
Echoing the call, retired Brigadier-General John Sura championed legal self-defense. “Carry a licensed Dane gun or sharp objects”, he advised, plus bolster local outfits like Plateau’s ‘Operation Rainbow’. “Police and military can’t be everywhere – communities must share intelligence and augment them”, Sura stressed, pinning failures on poor collaboration.
