The President of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Job Ayuba Baggat, has expressed concern over the renewed attacks and killings of innocent people in Plateau State by suspected bandits.
In a press release issued on Tuesday in Jos by ECWA spokesperson Danjuma Dickson Auta, the ECWA President lamented the tragic developments and conveyed the disappointment of the entire denomination over the continued violence.
Recent attacks were reported in Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas, where scores of people were killed. In a statement, Rev. Baggat strongly condemned the coordinated attacks on peaceful residents in Ratatis community of Dorowa Babuje District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where 10 people were reportedly killed, as well as in Nzharivo Miango in Bassa LGA, where one Abbas Musa was killed.
He described the incidents, along with other coordinated attacks in parts of the country, as a brutal assault on Christianity and humanity in general.
In the statement issued from the ECWA headquarters in Jos, Rev. Baggat expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives and the destruction of property during the attacks, which occurred over the weekend.
Reports from the affected communities indicate that gunmen stormed Ratatis village on Funday night, killing several farmers and residents and injuring others, while separate violence was reported in the Miango area of Bassa.
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of precious lives in Dorowa Babuje and Nzharivo,” Rev. Baggat stated. “These coordinated attacks are not just an assault on the individuals and families affected; they are a direct assault on the sanctity of humanity itself.”
“We stand in solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those grappling with the unimaginable grief and fear that these acts of terror have sown within our communities.”
Rev. Baggat called on the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government to intensify and sustain efforts to safeguard lives and property. He urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice as a deterrent to further violence.
He commended the concern shown by the state governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, but urged the government to strengthen and rejuvenate the security architecture. He also called on the Federal Government to explore lasting solutions to address the lingering insecurity.
“Our communities cannot continue to live under the shadow of death and displacement,” the ECWA President added.
The ECWA leader further advised community members to remain vigilant and security-conscious, while rejecting ideologies that seek to divide communities along ethnic or religious lines. He also appealed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious bodies, and well-meaning individuals to provide emergency assistance to displaced persons and families who lost their means of livelihood in the attacks. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and comfort for the bereaved families.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. We must come together in prayer and action to dismantle ideologies of fear and become champions of love and compassion,” Rev. Baggat concluded.
