The Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) has affirmed that the Nigerian Government possesses the capability to overcome terrorism and end widespread insecurity, provided that leaders confront the crisis with honesty, courage, and sustained commitment. The Christian group made this assertion during an engagement with 150 victims of kidnapping and violent attacks drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Kaduna State, where survivors recounted painful experiences of abduction, killings, and displacement.
Survivors Share Harrowing Experiences
Among the victims who recounted their ordeals was a pregnant woman whose husband was killed during an attack in a community in Lere Local Government Area. She later gave birth in the kidnappers' den. Another survivor, Mrs. Love Marcus, described how she was abducted while pregnant in November last year after her husband was killed in the same attack. She and 13 other community members were taken away, with a ransom of over N70 million reportedly paid before their release. Two of the victims were killed in the kidnappers' camp, while she gave birth to a baby boy while still in captivity. Another survivor, Mrs. Sim Paul, said she spent weeks in captivity after abductors demanded millions of naira before her release.
CHAIN CEO Calls for Decisive Action
The Chief Executive Officer of CHAIN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, said Nigeria's security challenge has persisted not because the country lacks the means to overcome it, but because decisive and transparent leadership is urgently required to defeat terrorists. According to him, the government must treat insecurity as a national emergency and move beyond routine assurances to practical action capable of restoring public confidence. Speaking at the CHAIN Conference in Kaduna on Friday, Hayab stated that citizens across affected communities have become exhausted by recurring kidnappings and killings, while many now fear that violence is gradually being normalized. He appealed, "Our simple appeal is that government should bring to an end this evil of kidnapping and killing. Let the killing stop. We have what it takes to stop this. We are challenging leaders to have the will." Hayab noted that insecurity has crippled farming activities, weakened livelihoods, and disrupted education in many rural communities, especially in northern states where attacks on villages have forced many residents from their homes. He added that people who once depended on agriculture for survival are now afraid to cultivate their farms, worsening poverty and food concerns. He urged citizens to also play their part by cooperating with security agencies, sharing intelligence, and adopting lawful vigilance measures to safeguard their communities. "We live in these communities. We know our environment more than anybody. We must collectively work with security agencies and government to bring this evil to an end," he said.
International Support and Warning
Also speaking at the event, a former United States military officer and missionary journalist, Antonio Graceffo, said Nigeria has the human resources, institutions, and social structures needed to defeat terrorism. He stated that the country has intelligent citizens, traditional institutions, churches, community networks, and dedicated personnel that can be mobilized to tackle insecurity effectively. "I think Nigeria definitely has the capacity to do this. You have intelligent people, dedicated people and structures in place. You can work together to solve this problem," he added. Graceffo called on the international community to support Nigeria through partnerships and assistance, stressing that any lasting solution must remain Nigerian-led. He warned that repeated attacks are creating dangerous public numbness, where daily killings no longer shock citizens as they should. "The attacks are happening every single day and people are becoming numb to it. It is horrible that people can be killed and it becomes normal because it happened yesterday or the day before," he said.
Conference Aims to Heal and Guide
The organizer of the conference, CHAIN, said the gathering was put together for participants to provide healing, encouragement, and practical guidance for communities traumatized by violence. Participants and the organizer called on authorities to combine military operations with honest leadership, stronger community engagement, and measurable reforms in order to reverse Nigeria's prolonged security crisis.
