The National President of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria (BBN), Professor Samson Duna, has described the rising attacks on churches and Christian communities across the country as politically motivated, warning that Nigeria’s security challenges now carry dangerous religious and political undertones.
Professor Duna made the assertion during the end-of-year thanksgiving service of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria and the investiture of three national patrons at the ECWA Goodnews Church, Suleja, Niger State.
While acknowledging the biblical perspective on persecution, Duna said the current reality demands greater vigilance from the Church.
“Christ already warned that the world would hate Christians and persecute them. In that sense, the attacks are biblical. But beyond that, we must be vigilant. Churches must wake up to the responsibility of providing adequate security for worshippers,” he said.
The BBN president expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on churches and the abduction of worshippers, noting that the security situation cannot be divorced from political interests.
“We cannot rule out the political dimension. Those seeking power are involved, those acting for economic gains are involved, and those fighting over land are also part of the problem,” Duna stated.
He called on the government to rise to the occasion and intensify efforts to protect innocent citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
Speaking on the significance of the ceremony, Professor Duna said the core mission of the Boys Brigade remains the advancement of the Christian faith among young people, grooming them to become God-fearing citizens and responsible leaders of tomorrow.
Earlier, the President of the Boys Brigade, Niger State Council, and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, said it would be an understatement to deny that Christians are facing persecution in Nigeria.
Vatsa described the persistent attacks on churches and Christian communities as unfortunate and a strong indictment of the country’s leadership.
“Whatever the motives behind these attacks, government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property. If a government cannot protect its people from being attacked and killed, it loses the moral authority to ask for their votes,” he said.
The highlight of the event was the investiture of three Boys Brigade members from Niger State as National Patrons. They are John Umoru of the University of Abuja, John Haruna Rike, and Dr. Abiodun Abraham Ayoola.