Christian leaders raise funds for victims
Given the attacks and killings in Plateau State by suspected Fulani militia, the four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the state have said the old slogan of “Enough is enough” should be changed to “This is Enough and let us Stand up and take Action.”
This was as some prominent Christian leaders, including Yomi Kasali, Ayo Oritsejafor, Mike Okonkwo, Yusuf Biniyat and Isa el Buba, on Monday night, attended a concert to raise funds for victims of insurgency in the North.
According to Plateau NBA, the communities should be allowed to defend themselves, urging the Federal Government to empower vulnerable communities with self-defence mechanisms and equipment, since the security personnel are not enough to secure citizens’ lives.
These and others were among the submissions of the four branches of the NBA in Jos yesterday, at a briefing at NUJ State Secretariat. The four branches are Jos, Pankshin, Bukuru and Shendam.
Addressing the journalists yesterday, Chairman of Jos NBA and the leader, Leah Hassan, said the branches were saddened by the spate of violent attacks in Bokkos and Bassa, which claimed many innocent lives, leaving others injured, displaced, traumatised and grieving.
She said: “It is utterly heart-wrenching that while Plateau has yet to recover from the horror and pain of previous attacks, our peace is once again shattered by another wave of senseless and barbaric killings.
“These acts of violence are a direct assault on our shared humanity, the rule of law and the fundamental right to life as enshrined in our Constitution.”
The reaction of the national NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), calling on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility of safeguarding the life of every citizen was adequately captured.
THE concert, organised by the Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA) Church in Lagos, was held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was aimed at garnering sympathy and creating awareness on the plight of victims of insurgency in the Northern region.
The Christian leaders used the event to seek ways to assist the victims.
In attendance were some widows from the North, who narrated how they lost their husbands to attacks and the harsh reality they face taking care of the children alone.
The evening concert featured music performances by prominent Nigerian gospel artistes, including Mike Abdul, Kaestring, Abbey Ojomu, Wisdom Chigozie and others, who rendered songs to stir state actors to end insurgency in the country.
Convener of the event, who doubles as the Senior Pastor of FOTA, Kasali, said Christians in the North needed the empathy of their counterparts in the South to keep faith.
According to him, the polarisation of the body of Christ in the country by politicians, after the 2015 general elections, contributed to some of the insecurity crisis in the country.
