The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has strongly condemned the recent killings in Plateau State, Nigeria, which claimed at least nine lives, including a pastor on his way to church. In a statement issued in Kaduna, the NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, expressed concern over the recurring violence and its devastating consequences for families, communities, and livelihoods. The association warned that Nigerians must not become so accustomed to violence that the death of innocent citizens is gradually treated as an ordinary occurrence.
According to the NCA, the latest attacks occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning across parts of Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and neighbouring communities. Five people travelling towards Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi were reportedly killed when their vehicle came under attack, while a pastor and another person were killed on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje. Separate attacks were also reported at Baten Wereng and Ratyidi. The association described the incidents as a human tragedy that should command the attention of government and the wider society.
The NCA emphasized that every life lost represents a human tragedy and that the sanctity of human life must remain a shared national value. The association urged the government and security agencies to move beyond reactive responses and adopt more proactive measures to prevent attacks. Rev. Hayab stressed that Nigerians must not become accustomed to killings, emphasizing that every life matters and that the country cannot continue to wake up to reports of innocent people being killed.
The NCA chairman commended the Federal and Plateau State governments, as well as security personnel who continue to risk their lives in the service of citizens. However, he urged the authorities to urgently review the security situation in vulnerable parts of the state and strengthen measures to identify and neutralize threats before they escalate into attacks. The association suggested that increased deployment of security personnel could provide temporary reassurance to affected communities.
The NCA stressed the importance of closer collaboration between security agencies and local residents, noting that communities must be treated as critical partners in the fight against insecurity. The association suggested that residents are often the first to notice unusual movements, suspicious activities, and emerging threats in their communities, and that such information could help security agencies prevent attacks if reliable channels are created for reporting intelligence.
The association called for thorough investigations into the separate attacks and urged security agencies to ensure that those found responsible are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. The NCA condoled with the families of those killed, the affected communities, and the Plateau State Government, while urging authorities to provide the necessary support to victims and residents whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by the violence.
The NCA urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards restoring confidence among residents, protecting vulnerable communities, and ensuring that the loss of innocent lives does not become another statistic in Nigeria’s security narrative. The association emphasized that the protection of citizens cannot be measured only by the response that follows an incident, but also by the ability of security institutions to anticipate threats, prevent attacks, and guarantee the safety of communities.
Key points
- NCA Chairman Rev. Joseph John Hayab urged the government to urgently review the security situation in vulnerable parts of Plateau State.
- The association called for closer collaboration between security agencies and local residents to prevent attacks.
- The NCA urged authorities to ensure that those found responsible for the killings are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
