From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has registered its discontent with the growing and persistent attacks and destruction of Christian communities in Nigeria, particularly in the north, by armed non-state actors, Boko Haram Islamist sect.
The WCC lamented that such endless attacks had visited more pains, anguish, poverty and ancestral displacement on the people and asked the government to prioritise the safety and security of its citizens, irrespective of social, religious and political affiliation.
The Council resolved to engage more with relevant stakeholders in areas of advocacy and dialogue so that improved and durable peace and justice can be achieved for peaceful co-existence among the people.
The Council took the decision at the end of its week-long executive committee meeting held in Abuja.
The WCC is a fellowship of churches, which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour according to the scriptures, and therefore, seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s a fellowship of 352 churches from over 120 countries, representing more than 580 million Christians worldwide.
The WCC Moderator of the Central Committee, Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohn, who addressed journalists at the end of the meeting in Abuja, affirmed the Nigerian churches’ strong commitment to inter-religious dialogue and co-operation with the Nigerian Muslim community and institutions, hence, he encouraged all efforts by the government to address the concerns of Christians and Muslims communities.
“However, the WCC executive committee received painful testimonies from the churches of the insecurity, violence, displacement and persecution being faced by Christians in northern Nigeria, as well as in other parts of the country.
“The brutal attacks and kidnappings perpetrated by Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)) especially against Christians, is inhumane and should be stopped forthwith. However, Christians and Muslims suffer from the violent depredations of these criminal ‘bandits’.
“In addition to northern Nigeria, severe insecurity also affects parts of the South-East of the country. Children and women suffer, especially in these contexts of generalized endemic violence and insecurity,” he said.
The Council, therefore, appealed to the Nigerian government to exert maximum effort to bring security and stability to the affected communities, prosecute perpetrators, cooperate with the authorities of neighbouring countries to address cross-border issues, support people displaced by violence and fear of violence, and restore them to their homes in conditions of safety and dignity, as well as ensure freedom of religion to all Nigerians equally.
The Council mobilised all ecumenical and inter-religious initiatives for peace and social cohesion in Nigeria, underlining the special importance in the context of the International Centre for Interfaith Peace & Harmony (ICIPH), Kaduna; and of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
In his remarks, the WCC African President, Most Rev. Rufus Ositelu, confirmed that several other issues were discussed, particularly things that would promote peaceful co-existence, justice, environmental protection, and freedom of religion, among several others.
The WCC General Secretary, Rev. Jerry Pillay, noted the unanimous decision of the WCC Executive Committee for a ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release and safe return of all hostages, as well as opening of humanitarian corridors for those affected by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.