A Christian group, Koinonia Ministerial Network, has called on Christians across the country to stop eating beef.
In a statement signed by its International President, Apostle Tony Olukoyede, and its National Secretary, Pastor Simon Okpanachi, the group said the call was to protest against the New Year killings of 73 people in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The killings were alleged to be the herdsmen’s reaction to the anti-open grazing law of the Benue State government.
According to KOMNET, the decision to call for the boycott of beef by the body, which has been in existence for 14 years in Nigeria and South Africa, was taken after its first quarterly prayer retreat held between January 21 and 23, 2018 at its headquarters in Lagos.
The body also said it was worried about the country’s growing level of insecurity and wanton killings of innocent Nigerians, particularly Christians, by Fulani herdsmen.
KOMNET said after fervent prayers for peace and divine intervention for the country, it came up with the following resolutions:
“That all Christians in Nigeria should truly stop forthwith eating of cow meat for these two reasons: protest against the fact that the Fulani herdsmen value the life of a cow than that of a human being, which is the reason behind their killings. This is also in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were murdered in cold blood by Fulani herdsmen because of cattle in several parts of Nigeria.
“We the members and leaders of Koinonia Ministerial Network have decided to boycott cow meat in Nigeria till further notice as solidarity to the good people of Benue State whose sons, daughters and parents were murdered by the herdsmen in the most dehumanising way ever imagined. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives and we pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort them all.”
Meanwhile, the group also called on Christian leaders across the country to mobilise their congregations to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of next year’s elections.
It said, “It is important for Christian leaders to encourage their followers who are 18 and above to get their voter cards, particularly now that the 2019 elections are around the corner and the Independent National Electoral Commission is moving from ward to ward registering prospective voters.”
