This Christmas, Nigeria’s streets were eerily quiet. There were no jubilant Christmas Night. In fact, no crowded watch-night services, and celebrations were muted far beyond what any seasoned observer could remember. For many, the festive season felt hollow, stripped of its customary joy and replaced by a pervasive fear that lingered over homes, churches, and public spaces alike. The cause is clear: escalating insecurities across the country have sown panic, reshaping how Nigerians dare to celebrate what should be a season of hope.
In cities, towns and even villages, churches remained half/fully empty. Where once families gathered to sing, pray, and embrace the promise of Christ, now only a few brave souls that is if at all, attended services, while many stayed home, afraid to traverse unsafe roads. Markets and streets, usually alive with festive cheer, were subdued, as citizens weighed the risk of robbery, kidnapping, and violent clashes against the desire for celebration. This is a stark departure from past Christmases, and for many, a chilling reminder of the country’s unraveling social fabric.
Floods, accidents, and sporadic violence compounded the gloom. In several states, heavy rains destroyed homes, while reckless driving amid celebratory traffic caused tragic accidents. Social media feeds were flooded with videos of empty streets, abandoned gatherings, and anguished families—silent testimony to a holiday drowned in anxiety. Even the normally vibrant night markets and festive concerts failed to open, leaving cities in a ghostly calm, punctuated only by sirens and the distant hum of emergency vehicles.
For believers, the stark reality has prompted deeper reflection. Many are asking: should Christians now worship God from the safety of their homes, as Scripture teaches? The Bible calls for worship “in spirit and in truth,” and in these turbulent times, the question resonates more than ever. Religious leaders have echoed the concern, urging faith communities to cling to spiritual devotion over public display, as personal prayer and private worship may be the only refuge from an increasingly hostile environment.
As Nigerians emerge from this grim Christmas, the message is unmistakable. Life has grown fragile, celebrations are now constrained by fear, and the signs of societal strain are impossible to ignore. Families mourn quietly, leaders scramble for solutions, and the faithful wrestle with the challenge of honoring God amidst insecurity. In a country where the joyous bells of Christmas were muffled by terror, the question remains: is this the beginning of a new era of private devotion, signaling a turning point for faith in the end times?
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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