Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has declared that no Nigerian deserves to be killed on account of religion, warning that faith-based violence poses a grave threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
Hayab made the assertion in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a condolence visit to the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade, over the June 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which left more than 40 worshippers dead during a Sunday Mass.
Describing the Owo massacre as a national tragedy, the Northern CAN chairman said the incident transcended regional, ethnic and religious boundaries, noting that similar attacks had been experienced in different parts of the country, particularly in the North.
He explained that the visit was to personally identify with the diocese, encourage survivors and families of the victims through relief materials, and reaffirm the solidarity of Christians in Northern Nigeria with communities affected by terror attacks across the country.
“No Nigerian deserves to die because of his or her faith. What happened in Owo concerns every Nigerian. We have seen this repeatedly in the North, and the pain is the same everywhere,” Hayab said.
He called on governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of lives, ensure justice for victims and take decisive action against perpetrators, stressing that peace and national cohesion cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and impunity.
Speaking during the visit, former Chairman of CAN in Ondo State and former President of the Ondo State Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Ayo Oladapo, described Bishop Arogundade as a father figure and a unifying voice for Christians in the state and beyond.
He said the suffering of one part of the Christian body affects the entire Church.
Chairman of CAN in Ondo State, Rev. Fr. Anslem Ologunwa, who led the delegation to the Bishop, highlighted Bishop Arogundade’s journey of service, noting his 15 years as Bishop of the diocese and 35 years in priesthood.
Fr. Ologunwa also drew attention to the ongoing care for victims of the attack, including a survivor permanently confined to a wheelchair after a double amputation, stressing that the pain of the victims remains a collective responsibility of both the Church and the nation.
He disclosed that no fewer than 60 children of victims are currently benefiting from five-year scholarships in various tertiary institutions, adding that the Church continues to support families affected by the tragedy.
In his response, Bishop Arogundade thanked Hayab for the visit, describing it as a powerful expression of empathy and unity.
He said the gesture reinforced the message that the Church remains united across regions and denominations in the face of violence.
While acknowledging efforts by some political leaders to foster unity, the Bishop also commended the Kaduna State Government for sponsoring what he described as the first Christmas carol aimed at healing divisions left by the previous administration.
He lamented the brutal loss of lives in the Owo massacre, recounting the horrific injuries sustained by some victims, including children, and appealed to government authorities to take decisive steps to ensure that Nigerians can live together in peace and security.
Earlier, Hayab visited the First Baptist Church, Akure, where the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji, described him as a pride to Christendom and a worthy ambassador of the Baptist family within CAN leadership and the global Christian community.
The Northern CAN chairman was received by senior Christian leaders in the state. He was accompanied on the visit by Barrister Dr. Grace Kaka, Director of Legal and Public Affairs and Special Adviser on Media to the Northern CAN Chairman, as well as Mr. Austine Agbo Emmanuel.
