Jos Crisis: PFN Warns Christians Against Retaliation
ICC Note
“It is time the government found lasting solution to the killings of innocent Nigerians. It looks as if there is no government in place with the incessant killings of our people.”
By Kunle Awosiyan
01/27/2011 Nigeria (Nigerian Tribune)-The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged Christians in the northern part of the country not to retaliate any attack by sect groups in the region, calling on them to maintain peace at all time.
The national vice-president of PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, said this at a news conference in Lagos, on Wednesday.
He said that the Christian body sympathised with Nigerians who had lost their relatives, friends and properties in Jos, Plateau State crisis, but added that revenge would not solve the crises.
Lamenting that the frequency of the violence is disturbing, Oke said, “It is time the government found lasting solution to the killings of innocent Nigerians. It looks as if there is no government in place with the incessant killings of our people.”
He directed the church in Jos to always react to any attack on them with love, endurance and spirit of reconciliation, stating that any attempt for them to retaliate might trigger war in the land.
He said, “violence undermines evangelism and should not be encouraged among Christians.
Instead of retaliating violence with violence, our church in the north must resist it with love and peace.”
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Tagged, “Altar of praise for the nation,” Williams said that giving praises to God would change the situation of the country, especially the killings in the north and kidnapping in the south Eastern region.”
Williams explained that it was always good to praise God in the time of persecutions and war, calling on Nigerians to worship the almighty with their songs.
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