By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), Rev. Emmanuel Ande, on Tuesday decried the continued killings and displacement of farming communities in Taraba State.
Speaking in an interview with PERISCOPE NIGERIA, Bishop Ande described the displacement of over 1,000 communities since 2019 and the persistent killings in the state as a “deep humanitarian, moral and security failure.”
He said the lack of proper intelligence gathering to tackle armed terrorists, as well as unfair government policies, were worsening insecurity and fueling ethnic and religious divisions. He called for immediate action to address the situation.
“Since 2019, over 1,000 farming communities in Taraba have been displaced, and the killing of innocent citizens is increasing by the day.
“This is about security and the government’s failure to protect lives and property. No responsible leader, religious or political, can be comfortable with such a tragic reality.
“The displacement of farming communities and the killing of innocent citizens in Taraba and other parts of Nigeria represent a deep humanitarian, moral and security failure. I call on the government to step up action to end this ungodly act.
“I grieve with the victims and their families. Food security, livelihoods and social trust have been severely damaged. Silence is not an option. Justice, reconciliation and decisive action must replace fear and neglect. Human life must remain sacred, and protecting it must be our highest priority,” the Bishop said.
According to Bishop Ande, fair and inclusive government policies are key to restoring trust among religious and ethnic groups and fostering development in the state.
“Ending religious and ethnic differences lies in intentional leadership and collective responsibility. Government policies must be fair and inclusive.
“Religious and traditional leaders must reject hate speech and promote mutual respect. Education should emphasise shared humanity, not differences.
“We must teach our people, especially the youth, that diversity is not a threat but a strength. We must ensure dialogue, justice and accountability to achieve development. Taraba can only move forward when we start seeing one another first as human beings, as neighbours and as partners in progress,” he said.
The cleric also frowned at the alarming rate of substance abuse among Nigerians, especially the youth, and called for moral guidance and rehabilitation support to curb the trend.
Bishop Ande disclosed that his advocacy against drug abuse was born out of pastoral concern and prophetic responsibility, noting that many promising young lives were being cut short and communities destabilised by substance abuse.
“Substance abuse has become one of the greatest obstacles to effective evangelism among our youth. It distorts moral judgment, weakens spiritual sensitivity, destroys families and robs young people of purpose and hope.
“As a pastor and Bishop, I have seen promising lives cut short and communities destabilised because of drugs. My advocacy against drug abuse is born out of pastoral pain and prophetic responsibility.
“Evangelism is not only about preaching salvation but also about preserving life and restoring dignity. I intend to raise a generation that is healthy in mind, body and spirit; to reduce drug-related crimes; and to mobilise churches, families and institutions to treat substance abuse as both a moral and public health emergency.
“I call for collaboration, not competition, to end the menace. The church must intensify preventive education, mentorship, counselling and rehabilitation support, especially among young people.
“Faith communities must speak boldly, act compassionately and provide safe spaces for recovery rather than condemnation.
“The government must strengthen law enforcement against drug trafficking, invest in rehabilitation centres, fund youth empowerment programmes and integrate drug-abuse education into schools. When the church provides moral guidance and the government provides policy and infrastructure, sustainable change becomes possible,” he added.
The UMCN Bishop also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his peace-oriented decision to direct the reopening of a church after years of closure.
He expressed optimism that lasting peace would be built through reconciliation services, forgiveness processes, pastoral counselling, inclusive leadership and continuous dialogue.
“We appreciate Governor Agbu Kefas’ courageous and peace-oriented decision. I want to assure you that lasting peace will be built through reconciliation services, forgiveness processes, pastoral counselling, inclusive leadership and continuous dialogue.
“We will focus on healing memories, rebuilding trust, strengthening internal governance and promoting a theology of peace and coexistence. Our message is clear: the church must be a model of unity, maturity and love for the wider society.
“We do not wish to witness the impact of the crisis again; it was profound. Many Christians were denied access to worship, children lost moral and spiritual formation, families were divided and fear replaced fellowship.
“Social trust was eroded and economic hardship increased, especially where churches also served as centres for education and community support. Faith communities are meant to be places of hope, not anxiety. That reality weighed heavily on us and strengthened our resolve to pursue peace at all costs.
“We have arrived at this point because the crisis required patience, prayer, dialogue and principled leadership. We adopted an inclusive peace-building approach anchored on truth, justice and reconciliation.
“Sustained dialogue with all stakeholders, respect for due process, pastoral engagement at the grassroots, reconciliation committees and constant prayers were key strategies we adopted to achieve the positive outcome.
“We emphasised unity over victory and healing over blame. Peace does not come by force; it comes when people feel heard, respected and treated fairly,” the Bishop stated.
