Rev. Dr. Augustine Akpen Leva and other during the one day fasting and prayers in NKST Iortyer Makurdi
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The immediate past Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Benue State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Augustine Leva, has revealed that bandits’ interest was more on the church and the Christians community in the state.
Speaking during the one day fasting and day prayer organised by the NKST Church World Wide, Dr Leva who is the resident Pastor, NKST Church Iortyer, Makurdi, said Christians were being killed by the bandits and churches were also destroyed.
The former CAN Chairman noted that one Rev. Benjamin Iorngaghem and his wife were part of those killed during the attacks in Ukum part of the state, lamenting that over three hundred Christians were killed in the last few days.
Dr. Leva disclosed that his consistory was complying with the directive of the leadership of the NKST Church by observing a one day fasting and prayers to seek God’s intervention in the killings in the country and Benue State in.particular.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia were doing their best but they should redouble their efforts to stop the killings as according to him they have to rise up to their responsibilities.
As he lamented that “enough is enough” the NKST Synod Committee member emphasised that the killings have continued unabated and there was need for divine intervention, the situation that necessitated the call by the Church authority to declare a one day for fasting and prayers.
Collaborating with the former CAN Chairman in the State, Rev. Terlumun Semaka noted that the attack on the people of the state was strategic and coordinated as the herdsmen sat, planned and started executing and appealed to government officials to be sincere in their approaches and abort the fear of risking 2027 elections.
Also commenting, Elder Tyokase Tor, who expressed worry over the killings, lamented that the attack was the attempt by the herders to take over the state and called on the relevant authorities to rise up to stop the killings.
At the one day fasting and prayer in NKST Churches World Wide, prayers were offered for the family of late Rev. Benjamin Iorngaghem and his wife who were killed in Ukum. Prayers were also offered for the leadership of the church, traditional rulers, top government officials, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) amongst others.
