Killings in Benue, Plateau: Take up arms in defence: Rev. Elekwa to Christians

A Lagos Moderator of Yaba Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, the Very Rev. Jonathan Elekwa has urged Christians in Plateau and Benue to take up arms in defence of themselves against invaders who are known to be Fulani herders.

He spoke in Lagos on Monday over the endless killings going on the two States in North Central Nigeria and other parts of the country, citing Luke 22:36 where Jesus Christ admonished Christians to prepare for warfare by selling their sandals to buy swords.

Rev. Elekwa said; “We condemn the killings outrightly. One is that Nigeria is a country that has multiple religions and everybody is entitled to a religion. You are not forced to join me, I’m not forced to join you. No religion is expected to attack each other.

“So we condemn the killing of Christians and non-Christians as well. And based on that, we are calling on the government to intervene because it won’t be a good story if the Christians begin to revolt over that.
“We condemn it as a church, and we, for now, ask that let the government do the needful so that people may not take laws into their hands, maybe by retaliating,” he said.

On whether Christians and other vulnerable persons should bear arms for self defence, he said it is biblically right.

He said; “Jesus told his disciples that a time would come when you will sell your sandals, your shoes and buy sword. He didn’t say buy pen knife.

“We don’t use sword to cut okra. We don’t use sword to cut bread. Jesus was telling them that there will be a time for war.

“So you need to prepare yourself ahead of time and that time is now. Jesus didn’t tell them to make trouble. He said buy it and keep by your side because there will be a time war will come.

“You need to be alive to preach the gospel. You need to be alive to preach the gospel and the gospel of Jesus must be preached to the entire world and nobody can stop it. Thank you.

“In Nigeria, self-defense is not a crime. Bearing arms doesn’t mean go and look for trouble. You use arms to defend yourself.

“Yes, you will start to defend yourself before the government will come and save you because if your life has been taken away, your life is gone, you are gone forever.

“So if you are in an environment where you are insecure, I am saying to both Christians and non-Christians, take a self-defense. If you have ammunition, keep them, stand back and preserve yourself before the government comes for your intervention,” he said.