The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), North East Chapter, has issued a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to swiftly halt the relentless violence devastating the region, insisting that communities can no longer bear the weight of continuous loss, fear, and displacement.
Speaking during the maiden North East YOWICAN convention in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, the group’s National Secretary, Elijah Bako, described the state of insecurity as alarming and deeply troubling, noting that the region has endured years of terror attacks, systemic hardship, and targeted assaults that have shattered families and uprooted entire settlements.
According to him, the North East remains one of the most traumatised zones in the country, burdened by “insecurity, displacement, violence, and systemic challenges,” a reality he said reflects “a voice of sorrow yet hope.” He urged authorities at all tiers of government to act decisively, saying, “We call on government at all levels—federal, state, and local—to urgently and responsibly address these matters with honesty and commitment. Our people have suffered enough. Our communities need healing, restoration, and meaningful intervention.”
Bako noted that the group stands by the recent warning issued by US President Donald Trump on Nigeria’s security situation, adding that voices attempting to downplay the crisis are not grounded in the realities on the ground. He stated that “The recent wake-up call made by President Donald Trump of the United States has once again drawn global attention to the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria. Any attempt to downplay or distort this truth is a product of media misrepresentation.”
He argued that those who are distant from the daily horrors faced by communities in the North East cannot dictate the narrative, stressing that residents “cannot mortgage our faith, voice, or conscience for temporary gain or political convenience.”
The YOWICAN secretary also called on Christian leaders, parents, and the broader Christian community to raise their voices boldly, warning that complacency or silence could weaken the resolve of the younger generation. “Your voice is the foundation upon which we will build our future. If you remain silent in times like these, you risk silencing the voice and faith of the next generation,” he stressed.
Reaffirming its stance, YOWICAN pledged to continue speaking against all forms of killings while urging the government to implement urgent, firm measures that will restore lasting peace and revive communities shattered by years of unrest across the North East.
What you should know
YOWICAN, the youth arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria, is amplifying fresh concerns over escalating insecurity in the North East.
The group’s message revolves around urgent calls for government intervention, renewed advocacy for victims of displacement, and a warning against silence from Christian leaders.
Their position reinforces rising local and international attention on the region’s worsening humanitarian and security conditions.
