Northern CAN Condemns Killings in Benue, Urges Tinubu to Act Swiftly

The Northern States chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly condemned the relentless killings in Benue State, calling them a national tragedy that demands urgent and honest intervention from the federal government.

During a condolence visit to Makurdi, the capital of Benue, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Northern CAN Chairman, emphasized that these atrocities should no longer be described as "herders-farmers clashes." He insisted the reality is more complex and deeply rooted in systemic violence.

“This is not a herders-farmers crisis, and we must stop describing it that way. If you don’t make the right diagnosis, you will never administer the right treatment,” Hayab told the governor and stakeholders. “We must call these killings what they are and face the situation with honesty and courage.”

Though Northern CAN has issued prior statements condemning the violence, this in-person visit was described as a gesture of spiritual and moral solidarity with the Benue people, who are often referred to as the nation’s breadbasketand a linchpin in Nigeria’s unity.

Hayab reaffirmed the group’s commitment to continue engaging government leaders, speaking truth to power, and pushing for genuine change across affected regions.

In a moving response, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia thanked the delegation, stating their presence offered a much-needed sense of hope and healing during dark times.

“As I was shaking hands with all of you and feeling your warmth, what ran through my mind was this, ‘I am because you are, and you are because I am.’ That is Christianity. That is the message Christ preached, love,” Alia said.

The governor described their visit as a divine presence, saying, “You are not just sitting here. It is Christ who is sitting on each of the chairs you occupy.”

He lamented the scale of the killings, stating that “even one life lost is one too many,” and urged citizens and leaders alike to seek innovative solutions to end the violence and protect lives and property.

The visit concluded with prayers for victims, their families, and the state, as CAN leaders reiterated their commitment to justice, peacebuilding, and continued advocacy in Benue and across Nigeria.

The delegation, which was received at Government House in Makurdi, included CAN chairmen, secretaries, youth, and women leaders from across the North and the Federal Capital Territory.