Northern Christian leaders demand probe into threat video against christians in Enugu, Jos

The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has condemned a viral video purportedly showing youths suspected to be Muslims chanting in Hausa and demanding AK-47 rifles to travel to Enugu State to kill people they described as infidels, describing the alleged remarks as barbaric, shameful and a serious security concern.

The association said that while it would not draw conclusions until the authenticity of the video had been established, its content was disturbing and raised questions about the response of security agencies to public expressions of religious hatred and alleged threats of violence.

In a statement issued to journalists on Monday, NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said it was increasingly concerning that some individuals appeared to make hateful remarks and issue threats without facing security checks or appropriate scrutiny.

He described the alleged chants as unacceptable, stressing that the matter should not be treated merely as a religious controversy but as a potential security issue requiring the attention of the relevant authorities.

“While we will not conclude until the authenticity of the video is verified, it now seems that some individuals have become so powerful that they can make hateful remarks and go scot-free without any security checks.

“This is no longer a religious issue but a security matter. It is shameful and must not be encouraged,” he said.

The Northern Christian leader urged both Christian and Muslim leaders to embrace the moral responsibility of raising their children with values that promote respect for human life, tolerance, discipline and peaceful coexistence.

“What a barbaric way of doing things! Both Christians and Muslims should embrace the moral responsibility of training their children. This is not good for our country. What an indoctrination!” he queried.

The NCA chairman warned that the promotion of religious hatred and the apparent encouragement of violence against people of other faiths could undermine national unity and make peaceful coexistence increasingly difficult.

He cautioned that if adherents of other religions continued to display similar attitudes towards people of different beliefs, building and sustaining a united nation would become a difficult task.

Hayab stressed that religious teachings should encourage compassion, respect and peaceful relations among citizens rather than indoctrinate young people into hatred or hostility towards others.