The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has condemned a series of violent attacks across northern Nigeria that coincided with Palm Sunday and the Easter period. The attacks, which occurred in Jos North, Plateau State, and parts of Kaduna State, resulted in multiple deaths and displaced several families during a time of religious observance. A statement signed by NCA chairman Rev. Joseph John Hayab and Secretary General Bishop Mohammed Naga described the situation as casting a shadow over Easter celebrations, with many communities mourning instead of rejoicing. The group highlighted ongoing insecurity in Benue, Borno, Niger, and Taraba States, where killings and abductions remain frequent. The NCA questioned the effectiveness of current security measures, noting that attacks during Christian holy seasons have become a recurring pattern. It urged the Federal Government and security agencies to move beyond statements and take sustained, strategic action to end the violence and bring perpetrators to justice. Religious, traditional, and community leaders were also called upon to promote unity and peaceful coexistence. Despite the violence, the NCA affirmed Easter as a symbol of hope and encouraged believers to remain steadfast.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab and Bishop Mohammed Naga are speaking from a reality many in northern Nigeria live daily—holy days marked more by bloodshed than worship. The fact that attacks have again coincided with Easter is not coincidence but a sign of how predictably weak security responses have become. When violence interrupts sacred seasons and no arrests follow, it signals to citizens that protection is not guaranteed, no matter the rhetoric from officials. This pattern doesn't just endanger lives—it quietly dismantles trust in the state itself.
