Christians in the 19 Northern states and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and
the respective state governors to stop paying lip service to their security.
Consequently, they have called on
the federal and state governments in the North to put
adequate measures in place to protect them and their places of worship and
bring to an end incessant attacks and killings of
Christians in the region.
The Chairman of Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the, FCT, Rev.
Yakubu Pam, who made the call, against the backdrop of recent killings of two
Christians in Kano and Niger States, said it was unacceptable
that some groups of persons operating under
the guise of defending their religion could hack to death a woman, Mrs. Bridget
Agabahime, in Kano and another Christian male, Chimaije Emmanuel, to death in
similar fashion under the guise of blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed.
Rev Pam in a press statement issued
at the weekend in Jos, charged northern governors to face up to their
responsibilities as chief security officers of their states and provide
adequate security to the lives and properties of Christians in their states. He
noted that Nigerians had equal rights to live in any state of the federation to
carry out their lawful businesses without anyone causing harm to them. He said:
“The recent ugly incidents in Kano and Niger states are regrettable and
uncivilized and should not be tolerated by people of good will in this country.
‘’The perpetrators of these evil
acts must be fished out with their gangs and made to face the full wrath of the
law to serve as deterrence to others who might be nursing such ambition to
carry out dastardly act in the nearest future.”
Pam also cautioned northern
governors not to rush into committing parts of land in their states for grazing
reserves or grazing route for cattle herders without going into consultation
with the people of their respective states who own the land. He warned that
unless the interests of the people they govern are taken into consideration
before embarking on any policy, it might be counter-productive at the end of
the day.
“This period in the history of this
nation calls for prayers and understanding among the diverse people of this
country for peace to reign in all parts of the country,” he stressed.
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Society