By Gurara Correspondent
The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has called on security agencies to investigate a viral video allegedly showing some youths demanding AK-47 rifles to travel to Enugu State and kill people they reportedly described as infidels.
The association condemned the alleged remarks as barbaric, shameful and a serious security concern, urging authorities to establish the authenticity of the footage and identify those involved.
In a statement issued to journalists on Monday, NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the content of the video was disturbing but cautioned against drawing conclusions until its authenticity and the accuracy of its translation had been verified.
Hayab expressed concern over what he described as the apparent freedom with which some individuals make hateful remarks and issue threats without appropriate security scrutiny.
“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 NCA chairman stressed that alleged threats to kill people on religious grounds should not be dismissed as ordinary social media content, noting that such statements could undermine national security and peaceful coexistence if left unaddressed.
He also called on Christian and Muslim leaders, parents and community stakeholders to take greater responsibility for instilling values of tolerance, discipline, respect for human life and peaceful coexistence in young people.
“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!” Hayab queried.
He warned that promoting religious hatred and hostility against people of other faiths could threaten national unity and make peaceful coexistence increasingly difficult.
According to him, religious teachings should promote compassion, mutual respect and peaceful relations among citizens rather than encourage hatred or violence.
Hayab maintained that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be a source of mutual understanding and national cohesion, insisting that every citizen, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation, has the right to live and worship without fear or intimidation.
He consequently urged the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the video.
He said the investigation should establish the identities of the youths featured in the footage, the circumstances surrounding its recording, and whether the statements attributed to them had been accurately translated.
The association called for appropriate action in accordance with the law if the allegations were substantiated, alongside preventive measures to ensure that threats of religious violence do not escalate into actual attacks.
The NCA reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom, justice, peaceful coexistence and the protection of all Nigerians, stressing that no individual or group should be threatened or targeted because of their religious beliefs.
