Enough is Enough, Defend Yourselves - CAN Tells Northern Christians
Last update: April 4, 2026
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CAN urges northern Christians to organise for self-defence after deadly attacks...
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on Christians in northern Nigeria to take proactive steps to defend themselves amid ongoing attacks.
CBI News reports that the appeal follows a Palm Sunday assault on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left more than 20 people dead and several others injured.
The attack, which occurred around 8 p.m., has heightened fears ahead of the Easter celebrations.
In response to the incident, the Defence Headquarters placed troops on alert nationwide.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said surveillance had been intensified to ensure citizens celebrate Easter without fear.
However, CAN’s Northern Chairman, Joseph Hayab, said Christians must begin to organise themselves against attackers, stressing that continued fear and silence would only embolden them.
“These killers are not spirits. These killers are human beings; they may have got some upper hand, but when our people really organise themselves, a time will come when you see that the person who is chasing you, you are chasing him back,” Hayab said.
He warned that failure to act could prolong the violence.
“Unless and until all of us start organising ourselves to chase those who have been chasing us, they will torment us for the next 200 years,” he added.
Hayab also lamented the recurring pattern of attacks during major Christian celebrations.
“Since 2009 till today, they have been tormenting us every time it is Easter and Christmas; they will deny us the joy of celebrating,” he said.
While declining to disclose specific strategies, he said doing so could expose the community to further danger.
“If we start telling everything we know, we will just help the enemy of the church to triumph,” he noted, urging Christians to remain resolute despite the situation.
“We are angry with the killings; we are angry with the inability of government and security services to stop the killings, but we are also calling on Christians not to be deterred because this whole war is psychological,” he added.
Meanwhile, a retired military officer, John Sura, backed the idea of lawful self-defence and stronger community security systems.
He advised citizens to take minimal legal steps to protect themselves rather than remain vulnerable.
“Self-defence allows you to carry a Dane gun, and then you have a licence to carry that. If you go to the police, they can give you that,” Sura said, adding that individuals could also carry permitted tools for protection.
He further called on state governments to strengthen local security outfits, including vigilance groups, and improve the deployment of initiatives such as Operation Rainbow in Plateau State.
“The police and the military cannot be everywhere. We must augment them with local structures and timely intelligence,” he said, while blaming recurring attacks on intelligence gaps and weak collaboration between communities and security agencies.
