Very seriously, as herdsmen continue to massacre residents of towns dominated by Christians, debates steam from nook and crannies of the nation if it is right for pastor Suleiman to order Christians to pick up arms in self defense. Before I comment on that I will remind us the history of the church:
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
1) if you did GST in University, you would know a christian philosopher, Augustine from Egypt. Egypt was a Christian nation in medieval period. But today has just about 10 percent Christians. Infact, North Africa was dominated by Christians prior to intolerant Islamic invasion.
2) if you read the book of Revelation, you will see Jesus directed John to write letters to Seven Churches. Those churches, the Antioch church where we got the name "Christian" and Peter's grave are all in present day turkey. Turkey was a Christian nation shortly before the 20th century. An Islamic fundamentalist (Turkey's king, a supporter of Hitler) ordered Christians to be dropped from the army, used millitary force to kill about 600,000 indigenous Christians within few years. Today, it's almost impossible to find Christians in Turkey
3) CHRISTIANITY today was preserved by the Europeans who engaged the Islamic fundamentalist in a full scale national war. That is what gave rise to the word, "CRUSADE". we often use the word CRUSADE to mean church programs not realizing it's true meaning and origin.
The Catholic Church leadership (being in control of most European states) declared a holy war against Islam after it had conquered christians in Africa, middle East and were advancing towards Europe.
The dictionary defines crusade as "any of the military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims".
The word CRUSADE did not originate from evangelistic outreaches but from millitary expedition (self defense and territory reclamation) by church people.
Without Europe's violent response, there would have been no Christians today.
In leading his nation in a war to stop the Islamic fundamentalist wars, Emperor Boniface declared, "Islam is a cancer, only violence can stop it!".
Indeed, Europe's violent response stopped it. If not, Europe would have been overthrown by violent Islamic fundamentalist long ago even before Colonial period. The colonial period which helped spread christianity to Africa, Asia and America would have violently spread Islam instead if Europe was defeated!
European states fought for the preservation of Christianity. Christians must learn how to UTILIZE THE POWER OF THE STATE and stop shying away from politics especially voting in a CHRISTIAN minded person during election which will help preserve CHRISTIANITY.
During last election most ignorant church people were shouting we don't care whichever religion the president comes from, we don't care. The Muslims on the other hand were saying an infidel cannot rule them.
The killings in Nigeria today is important for the church and may be divinely permitted to correct us of the wrong attitude and carelessness when making decisions that could affect our religion.
Buhari was an Islamic fundamentalist known to have publicly pledged his support for the spread of Sharia before 2015. So, how do you expect him to save the church from Sharia wars or Jihad wars embarked upon by his kinsmen? Never!
The gist of how Christianity is forcefully wiped out from different nations is unending and who says a gradual and systematic repeat is not what we see in the hands of illiterate FULANI herdsmen? The Fulani brought violent Islam to Nigeria through Usman Dan Fodio.
MY IDEA ON THE ISSUE OF SELF DEFENSE
1) in the New testament, the individual response to persecution is FLEE. since you can't kill. But If you are caught unawares rejoice in the persecution and pray for the enemies if you survived it
2) following the church example when James was arrested, the churches response to persecution is pray. God is still capable of killing Herod with uncertain death as well as opening the prison doors
3) the state's response is to fight back using its millitary. Christian's are hunted by three things
a) they discourage joining millitary organization. it is not a sin to be a soldier. The New Testament Bible supports it by saying, leaders are not a terror to good work but the evil.The Government with the law enforcement agency are described as ministers of God who are there to fight against evil on God's behalf (ROM 13:3,4). it's not a sin to be a soldier. Christian's who are interested in joining the military should not be discouraged. John the Baptist never asked repented soldiers to resign but to stop extortion
b) some churches discourage politics especially the area of denying their members right to vote in an election. This is totally wrong. You will only have enemies of the church in power if the church does not partake in voting.
c) many church people don't care about the religious beliefs shared by their supported political aspirants so far he comes from their tribe, even if he is occult or a religious bigot. This also is wrong, religion influence people in ways their tribal kinsmen cannot.
Many people especially pastors described Buhari as God Sent but today are silent because of the twist of events. We must be very careful with religious beliefs of whoever we choose as a leader over us.
It is not a mere coincidence that FULANI herdsmen have killed more people in the history of nigeria across the 36 states unchallenged than it ever happened before and the state orders the arrest of anyone who speaks against that

Are you talking of the Egypt were the Israelites were slaves?
Oh boy go and buy an authentic Bible.

Guy u are correct self-defense is very important now if they like let them hear and support the man that speak the truth unbehalf of the christian and let him suffer for the truth he utter.

F