The Sanctity of Human Life in Numbers 35:30-31: A Biblical Response to Bloodshed in Nigeria

The present wave of bloodshed in Nigeria has caused global concern, eroding the peace and tranquillity that citizens deserve, and turning villages, cities, and states into war zones. Despite the alarming situation, the government and citizens seem powerless to stop this evil tide. Therefore, this research investigated whether provocation or intention regarding killing a human being is justifiable from Numbers 35:30-31. This was then applied to cases of bloodshed in Nigeria (Global Conflict Tracker, 2021). Although there are written discourses on the economic, socio-cultural, family, political and spiritual impact of violent attacks on society, the paper seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge as it explores the biblical response to bloodshed in Nigeria from Numbers 35:30-31. Through making deductions from Johann August Ernesti’s historical-grammatical method of exegesis and administering a questionnaire to one hundred and twenty-three respondents randomly selected from the six geo-political zones of the country, findings show that there is no regard for human lives by perpetrators of bloodshed. They also believe in the sanctity of human lives and would not violate life unless it is extremely necessary. Also, from the exegesis, Provocation and intention do not justify the killing of another person, as it negates the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the study recommends that citizens pursue love, care, compassion, and tolerance attributes. Parents should instil the right traits and culture from home. Security forces should deploy measures to control crime and criminal behaviour in society. Political leaders and politicians need not use religion to divide citizens or encourage the breakdown of law and order. Religious leaders should encourage intra- and inter-faith dialogue and teachings that advocate peace. The government should avoid acts of injustice, inequality, and abuse of human rights that provoke victims to embark on a killing spree.