Vice Chair of CAN in Cross River, Rev. Okon, Flees Amid Traditionalist Attack

Rev. Victor Okon, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, has gone into hiding after facing alleged harassment and intimidation by traditionalists. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Christians in the Adim Community of the local government.

Rev. Okon, who is not only the Vice Chairman of CAN but also serves as the Senior Pastor of Christ Divine Liberation International, lamented the growing harassment and intimidation of Christians in the Adim Community, further claiming that these hostilities had escalated to the destruction of church property.

Addressing the media in Calabar on Tuesday, Rev. Okon, who is also the Coordinator of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in the area, highlighted that the persecution of Christians in the region had become an annual occurrence for the past four years.

The root of the conflict, as revealed by Rev. Okon, centers around the annual New Year festival traditionally celebrated in the locality. Traditionalists, according to him, have openly expressed their desire to ensure the closure of churches for two days during this festival, arguing that it is disrespectful to their holy days to have Christian worship ongoing.

The recent incident that prompted Rev. Okon to go into hiding involved an attack on their members while distributing flyers for an upcoming church program in the area. Not only were they physically assaulted, but their sound system and evangelism vehicle were also destroyed.

“This issue began in 2019, with the confiscation of megaphones, Bibles, and torches from Christians engaging in morning prayers between July and August,” Rev. Okon explained. “Their demand is that these two months should be void of Christian preaching near the community.”

To seek an amicable resolution, Rev. Okon has engaged in discussions with the clan head of the community to restore peace. However, this year’s New Yam festival took a dangerous turn when Rev. Okon’s church and others were targeted for destruction.

Rev. Okon, currently in hiding, expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the matter and called on Governor Bassey Otu and the Inspector General of Police for assistance, stating, “We can no longer bear this kind of threat, and I can’t enter my community freely. Even the place I sought safety has been discovered by those who wish to harm me.”

However, the Clan of Adim, led by Onun Etim Ofem Owai, declined to comment on the matter. The police, on the other hand, have acknowledged the situation and assured that it is under investigation by the X Squad unit of the Zone 6 Police Command in Calabar. SP Nelson Okpebi, the spokesman for the Zone 6 Police Command, stated, “The matter is before us, and we are investigating it.”

The situation remains tense, and the local Christian community is anxiously awaiting a resolution that will ensure their safety and the protection of their religious freedom in the Adim Community.