By: Michael Anakwe

According to Pope Francis, conditions for Christians are worse now than they were in the days of the early Church. Some truths cannot be better stated, the systematic and merciless targeting or killing of a particular tribe, ethnic group or region and religion over a period of time can in every ramification be referred to as genocide or an ethnic cleansing. Unfortunately, like with many serious matters in Nigeria, the incessant killings of hapless citizens in Southern Kaduna, has been classified as politically induced communal conflicts. But in this instance, Christians, being the predominant inhabitants of that region, are the end subject to a degree of government enforced restrictions and communal hostility by bandits whose identity remains a mystery.

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As Christians, we will not dwell in this political semantics but rather focus our thoughts and prayers for our Christian brethren in distress. Praying for the victims in Southern Kaduna and beyond should be our spiritual pre-occupation in this perilous time. We should consider it a Christian duty of care to say a prayer at any moment of our life to our brethren who are being persecuted because of their faith. As Catholics saying, at least, a decade of Rosary for this purpose will cause a great effect.

There are several narratives to the causes and maybe consequences of this perpetual barbarism against a tribe or ethnicity, there are equally perceived truths and lies that is relative to this seemingly unending carnage against a particular race and also there are theories conspired by many pundits, politicians, religious and traditional leaders alike on the reasons why this conflict has persisted in that region. There are those who believe that this is a territorial banditry that has ravaged the North west in the last few years and has overwhelmed any given security apparatus, thereby leaving the inhabitants, who are predominantly Christians, to the mercy of the sophisticated bandits who are presumably Muslim Fulani Herdsmen. Another thought opines that this is an orchestrated terrorism by yet again the Fulani Herdsmen who are propagators of Islam against the freedom and existence of Southern Kaduna Indigenes, a Christian region. Another simply refers to this circle of conflict as a continuous and common communal clash between the inhabitants of that region.

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The recent trend of barbarism against a particular race and religion in the North East and against the ‘Maguzawas’ and Southern Kaduna in the North West and the Middle belt region has given much credence to the second school of thought. This trend has projected upwards since 2017 till date with a deadly dimension that has left thousands of Christian farmers in the North and Middle Belt Region killed by Muslim Fulani Herdsmen, and hundreds of thousands fleeing their ancestral homes, whether this claim is perceived or real, the reality is that it is yet to be proven otherwise. The government on their part have offered very little in the form protecting the lives of these perpetual victims of bloodletting, if anything government has been perceived as double standard in carrying out their primary duties.

However, as followers and believers of Christ Jesus, these theories and postulations should not distract us from the truth or take away our conscience from the face of reality. We should know that our salvation cannot come from the earthly Government. Two things are expected from us whenever we are confronted with this evil of persecution: To pray without ceasing and to remain Faithful in the face of provocations and doubts. We know that persecution against Christians is as old as the Gospel. Both in the old and new world orders our Identity as Christians as made us to be an endangered human, the only virtue that has kept us alive and sustain Christianity over the centuries is the faith we have in Christ Jesus. He alone offers us protection and salvation.

 Everyday, in many places, Christians are sufferings and are victims of systematic persecution because of their faith and are left with no choice but to flee for their lives. It is a global trend. Our hope for survival is on God who made heaven and earth. May Virgin Mary continue to intercede for us.