Worship in a LCCN congregation. Photo: LWF/ F. Samari
LCCN organizes three days of fasting against killings
(LWI) - The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) has encouraged its members to fast and pray for three days, from 23-25 July, to advocate for peace and against violence in Nigeria.
In a pastoral message issued after meeting of the Council of Bishops, held in Numan on 18 July, Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, Chairman of the Bishop’s Council, and bishop Benjamin J. Fuduta, Secretary of the Bishop’s Council, further call on the Nigerian government to take proactive measures to intercept and bring to an end the activities of herdsmen, provide relief materials to displaced people and safely resettle them in the ancestral homes. They also urge political leaders, religious and traditional rulers to work towards ending the violent attacks, and safeguard lives and property.
They call on all members of the LCCN “to observe special prayers and fasting from July 23-25, 2018.
The LCCN calls for continued advocacy for “tolerance, peace and peaceful coexistence.” It salutes those that have supported the displaced and calls on all to respect the sanctity of human life by restraining from any violent acts.
The attacks in Nigeria’s Adamawa state began in November 2017, and have to date claimed more victims than the Boko Haram insurgency. LCCN has continously advocated for peace and protection of the farming communities.
During its recent meeting in Geneva, the LWF Council expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Nigeria, and called upon the Nigerian government to investigate the recent attacks, hold the perpetrators responsible and “initiate a comprehensive peace process led by religious leaders and traditional elders to amicably address the underlying causes of the conflict, serve justice and accountability for the lives lost, and the destruction of property, so as to foster reconciliation and mutual peaceful coexistence in the region and the country at large going forward.”
