The Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, has emerged as the chairman of the Northern Christian Traditional Rulers Forum.
He called for unity, peace, justice and collective action to build a secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Ayatse was elected at the Second Northern Christian Stakeholders’ Forum and Solemn Assembly organised by the Stephanos Foundation at the Glory Dome of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, yesterday.
After his emergence, the monarch expressed gratitude to God and members of the forum for the confidence reposed in him and other newly elected officers, pledging to provide purposeful, humble and God-fearing leadership.
He also commended Christian leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders whose support ensured the successful inauguration of the forum.
The Tor Tiv said leadership is ordained by God but entrusted to individuals through the confidence and support of the people, assuring members that the new executive would work diligently to advance the collective interests of Christian communities across Northern Nigeria.
He stressed that his message had always been one of collaboration and peaceful engagement with both Christians and Muslims.
“As a nation we must prepare to work together. We are not gathered for war; we are gathered for the sake of peace in this nation,” he said.
He explained that the forum would seek partnerships with all peace-loving Nigerians, including moderate Muslim leaders committed to religious freedom, justice and peaceful coexistence.
According to him, the forum would advocate for the protection of vulnerable communities, defend the constitutional rights of citizens to freely practise their faith and continue to speak against violence, displacement, oppression and the destruction of lives and livelihoods.
“We want to build a nation where nobody is oppressed, where every citizen enjoys freedom of worship, where people are not driven away from their ancestral homes, and where lives and property are protected,” he said.
The royal father described unity as the greatest strength of the forum, stressing that meaningful progress could only be achieved through cooperation among Christian traditional rulers, church leaders and ethnic nationalities across Northern Nigeria.
Drawing inspiration from biblical teachings, he said unity remained indispensable in overcoming the numerous security and humanitarian challenges confronting Christian communities.
“If we are united, it will be difficult for anyone to defeat us. Unity is indispensable,” he stated.
Ayatse further urged Christian leaders, traditional institutions and political stakeholders to work together in promoting peace, justice and national development, warning that division weakens communities and emboldens those seeking to destabilise society.
He also called for strategic engagement in addressing insecurity and religious persecution, stressing that prayers must be complemented by practical actions to protect vulnerable communities and support victims of violence.
The monarch disclosed that the forum would engage diplomatic missions, development partners and relevant international organisations to advocate for the rights and protection of persecuted and marginalised communities.
He pledged that under his leadership, the Northern Christian Traditional Rulers Forum would become a united voice for justice, peace, religious freedom and national cohesion.
Ayatse appealed to Nigerians to support the forum with prayers as it collaborates with other stakeholders to foster peaceful coexistence and contribute to national development.
Earlier, Christian traditional rulers, church leaders and stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria called for greater unity among Christians to confront persecution, insecurity and the humanitarian crises affecting communities across the region.
Similarly, the Programme Coordinator of the Stephanos Foundation and convener of the forum, Engineer Mark Lipdo, recalled that on December 14, 2025, more than 100 Christian traditional and religious leaders from Northern Nigeria gathered in Abuja to seek God’s intervention over the country’s worsening security situation.
He said participants came from the North-East and North-Central regions, many representing communities that had suffered violent attacks, displacement and the loss of loved ones.
“Out of that meeting came a conviction that Nigeria’s security cannot be prayed for from separate corners. It must be prayed for and worked for in unity,” Lipdo said.
He explained that the second assembly was convened to deepen collaboration among Christian leaders and strengthen collective efforts towards peace, justice and national healing.
The event attracted prominent Christian leaders and traditional rulers, including representatives of Bishop David Oyedepo, Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, represented by Pastor Agi Emmanuel; Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche; keynote speaker, Rev. Prof. Yusuf Turaki, Chief Executive Director of the Yusuf Turaki Foundation; Vice Chairman of the Northern Christian Traditional Rulers Forum, His Royal Highness Col. Paul Zakka Wyom (Rtd.); heads of Christian denominations and traditional rulers from across Northern Nigeria.
Speakers at the forum stressed that unity among Christians was critical to addressing the security and humanitarian challenges confronting many communities across the region.
Quoting Ecclesiastes 4:12, they noted that, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken,” emphasising that silence and division could not provide lasting solutions to the nation’s challenges.
The forum urged Christians across denominational divides to strengthen cooperation through prayer, advocacy, humanitarian intervention and community development.
Delivering the keynote address, Rev. Prof. Yusuf Turaki traced the history of religious violence in Northern Nigeria, noting that attacks on Christian communities had intensified over the decades, particularly following Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 and the emergence of insurgency in the North-East.
He called on the Church to respond through stronger unity, coordinated leadership, proper documentation of attacks and sustained humanitarian assistance to victims.
“The body of Christ must become one family. Denominations should cooperate in prayer, missions, advocacy, humanitarian response and discipleship. When Christians speak with one voice, that voice carries greater moral authority,” Turaki said.
He also advocated improved documentation of attacks to strengthen advocacy, legal engagement and historical accountability, while urging churches to establish coordinated systems for relief, trauma healing, education, livelihood restoration and the rebuilding of affected communities.
Presenting data compiled by the Stephanos Foundation over the past 25 years, Lipdo said the organisation had documented more than 9,000 violent incidents, resulting in over 79,000 deaths, thousands of injuries and kidnappings, and the destruction or displacement of more than 500 communities, many of them Christian.
According to him, the states most affected include Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Zamfara, Niger, Rivers, Delta, Katsina and Kogi.
He added that the foundation had provided humanitarian assistance, trauma counselling, shelter, rehabilitation, educational support and medical care to victims, while engaging international partners, including the United States Congress, the European Union and other global institutions, on the security situation in Nigeria.
Lipdo expressed appreciation to Christian leaders, traditional rulers, development partners and participants who travelled from different parts of Northern Nigeria despite security concerns to attend the forum.
The stakeholders concluded the assembly with prayers for peace, national unity and an end to violence, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration among Christian leaders and working with other Nigerians to promote justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.
