Holiday Marked by Violence and Mourning

Easter, a celebration honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ, remains a fundamental pillar of the Christian faith and a guiding moral principle for society, proclaiming a timeless message of life overcoming death, hope conquering despair, and love triumphing over hatred.

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At its core, Easter embodies the values of sacrificial love, forgiveness, and renewal, which are not merely abstract theological concepts, but practical principles with urgent relevance in a world plagued by division.

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In a country like Nigeria, where religious and ethnic differences constantly test national unity, Easter offers a pathway to peaceful coexistence, challenging both believers and non-believers to rise above prejudice and embrace empathy.

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The example of Christ's self-giving love disrupts cycles of retaliation that fuel communal tensions, as is the case across Nigeria, where historical grievances linger and virtues like forgiveness are essential for healing and stability.

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The message of new beginnings inherent in the resurrection invites citizens to re-imagine relationships across faiths and cultures on the basis of justice, respect, and shared humanity, calling for dialogue over division and collaboration over conflict.

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Easter also models humility, as Christ's victory was not one of domination but service, cautioning against religious arrogance and inspiring respectful engagement with others.

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If sincerely embraced, the message of Easter can help build bridges in Nigeria's complex landscape, offering a practical blueprint for harmony in a pluralistic society and providing not just spiritual hope, but a tangible foundation for unity.

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However, the reality in Nigeria is starkly different, with the concept of "unity in diversity" proving utopian, as heavily-armed motorcycle-mounted terrorists attacked a crowd in Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State on the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, killing at least 30 people and injuring many others.

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Plateau State is the oldest theatre of terror in Nigeria, perpetrated mainly by Islamic expansionist militias posing as "herdsmen", and the failure of successive governments to address this issue has allowed it to spread to other parts of the country.

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Other variants of terrorism, including Boko Haram, Lakurawa, and Mahmuda, threaten to overwhelm the nation's security architecture, with the attackers appearing to enjoy a free rein in an orgy of killings described in some quarters as Christian Genocide.

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Unless urgent action is taken, more attacks may take place during the festive weekend, highlighting the need for the government to fulfill its duty of stopping terrorism in Nigeria and creating an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.