Easter: Celebrating amid bloodshed

Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, remains the cornerstone of the Christian faith and a profound moral compass for society. Beyond its religious observance, it proclaims a timeless message: life conquers death, hope overcomes despair, and love triumphs over hatred.

At its heart, Easter speaks of sacrificial love, forgiveness and renewal. These are not merely theological ideas but practical values with urgent relevance in a fractured world. In a diverse nation like Nigeria—where religious and ethnic differences constantly test national unity—Easter offers a pathway to peaceful coexistence.

The example of Christ’s self-giving love challenges believers and non-believers alike to rise above prejudice and embrace empathy. His call to forgive disrupts cycles of retaliation that fuel communal tensions as is the case across Nigeria. In a society where historical grievances linger, such virtues are not optional; they are essential for healing and stability.

Equally significant is the message of new beginnings. The resurrection invites citizens to re-imagine relationships—across faiths and cultures—on the basis of justice, respect and shared humanity. It calls for dialogue over division and collaboration over conflict. Importantly, Easter models humility. Christ’s victory was not one of domination but service. This should caution against religious arrogance and inspire respectful engagement with others.

If sincerely embraced, the message of Easter can help build bridges in Nigeria’s complex landscape. Its enduring call—to love, forgive, and renew—offers not just spiritual hope, but a practical blueprint for harmony in a pluralistic society.

Unfortunately, the direct opposite of the Easter spirit is historically the order of the day in Nigeria. The concept of “unity in diversity” has proved utopian here in Nigeria.

Even as Christians prepared for this year’s Easter/Passover festivities which are usually accompanied with two-day Public Holidays, 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.

Plateau is the oldest theatre of terror in Nigeria, perpetrated mainly by Islamic expansionist militias posing as “herdsmen”.

The failure of successive governments to arrest this evil has propelled it to other parts of the country, with other variants of it – Boko Haram, Lakurawa, Mahmuda and the rest – threatening to overwhelm the nation’s security architecture.

Under this atmosphere of constant attacks on the indigenous populations by jihadist invaders, the series of reconciliatory measures initiated by the Federal and State governments have failed one after the other. The attackers appear to enjoy a free rein in an orgy of killings described in some quarters around the world as Christian Genocide. Unless care is taken, more attacks might take place this festive weekend.

Government must do its duty of stopping terrorism in Nigeria to create an atmosphere for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

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