The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has cautioned Nigerians against falling into what he described as a calculated attempt by terrorists to ignite religious conflict across northern Nigeria.

Hayab said recent violent attacks in parts of the region were deliberately designed to pitch Christians and Muslims against one another, stressing that terrorism should be seen as a shared national threat rather than a religious issue. He urged Nigerians to resist narratives that could deepen division and instead unite against a common enemy.

The CAN leader issued the warning during a get-together with journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, January 10. According to him, intelligence and emerging patterns from recent attacks suggest that terrorist groups, allegedly sponsored by faceless interests, are targeting Christian communities in some North-Central states, including Niger, Kwara and Kogi.

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He explained that such attacks were part of a broader agenda aimed at destabilising northern Nigeria by deliberately steering insecurity into a religious crisis. Hayab warned that allowing this strategy to succeed would only worsen the situation and weaken collective resistance against terrorism.

“We must warn our people that we will not be divided by these actions,” Hayab said. “Instead, we must remind our security agencies and the government to step up and defeat this common enemy.”

He stressed that the killing of any Nigerian, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, should be regarded as a national tragedy that affects everyone. According to him, violence against one group ultimately diminishes the shared humanity and unity of the entire country.

“If one life is lost in Nigeria, it is a Nigerian life that is lost,” he said. “Violence against any group diminishes the country’s shared humanity.”

Terrorism Must Not Be Framed as a Religious Conflict

To reinforce his message of unity, Hayab referenced Islamic teachings, noting that several Muslim leaders had repeatedly reminded him that the Qur’an strongly condemns the killing of innocent persons. He said such teachings underscore the fact that terrorism contradicts the core values of both Christianity and Islam.

“Muslim leaders often remind me that the Qur’an teaches that killing one person is akin to killing all of humanity,” Hayab said. “These are religious teachings we must return to, whether we fully understand them or not.”

He added that if these principles were genuinely embraced, Muslims themselves would rise to confront and reject violence committed in the name of religion. According to him, collective moral responsibility across faiths is essential to defeating extremism.

The CAN chairman called on Nigerians of all religions to expose individuals or groups who perpetrate violence under the guise of faith, warning that silence only emboldens criminals and extremists.

“Whoever kills a fellow Nigerian under whatever name or excuse must be exposed,” he said. “That is how we give our faith a good name and stop enemies of progress from tarnishing us, either as believers or as a region.”

Hayab also dismissed any suggestion that one group could force another out of northern Nigeria, insisting that coexistence among diverse communities was inevitable and non-negotiable.

“Nobody is going to chase anybody out of this region,” he declared. “Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with me or not, we will remain here together.”

He urged residents of the North to embrace unity and make the best of what he described as their shared destiny. According to him, division would only serve the interests of terrorists and enemies of peace, while unity, cooperation and mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims remain the strongest weapons against insecurity.

Hayab concluded that only collective resistance and sustained collaboration across religious and ethnic lines would defeat terrorism and preserve peace and stability in northern Nigeria.