The Christian Association of Nigeria has reacted to the incessant killings in Kaduna, warning that if the government does not address security issues in the country people might resort to self-help.
In a statement made available to Church Times on July 28 signed by Pastor Bayo Oladeji, the association said “People should not be allowed to resort to self-help. But if this situation is not addressed, self-help might be the alternative” because people would not look on while their lives are being wasted.
While commiserating with families of victims of recent mass murder in the state, CAN states, “there is an urgent need by government and the security forces to walk their talk and combat the raging insecurity across Kaduna state and other parts of the country.
“The government should not think that we are not appreciative of their efforts but we say without mincing words that your present best is unacceptable. It is not the best Nigerians expect. How can we be seeing and reading in the news about mass burials and be happy when we are not fighting a civil war? We deserve peace in Nigeria.” The statement reads in part.
CAN observes further that the mass murder has only shown that “these demons of murder are yet to sheathe their swords against Southern Kaduna communities and that the government appears not to be sincere in walking its talk.”
The body wondered why the assault is carried out in Christian dominated places. It asks, “Don’t we have Northern Kaduna? While the senseless murder is not desirable in any part of the state or Nigeria, the continuous assault on the Southern Kaduna people has become highly suspicious and alarming. Only a fool or somebody who is a party to this evil would not know that there is something fishing.”
The Christian body expressed disgust at the attitude of the presidency to the bloodshed in the region wondering why it described it as being politically motivated.
It asks, “Where is the statistical evidence for that? Who are the politicians involved in this inhuman and callous act that the Federal authorities have failed to apprehend or name? Do they have the right to be doing this and going scot-free if it is true?
“While the present bloodbaths in the southern part of Kaduna State have shown to be acts of criminality that should have attracted sanctions, the lacklustre disposition of the government in stopping further massacre of Christians and decimation of their communities by terrorist herdsmen speaks volumes on how government values human lives and genuine intervention.”
The body wondered why security agencies have not been able to apprehend the killers stating, “We have discovered that whenever security personnel are deployed to a place, the herdsmen go to other villages to attack and kill people in their sleep or when they are about to sleep or when they are waking up. Should the criminals be more professional in tactics than the government trained security personnel?”
It expressed regret that the prosecutors of this crime have not been brought to book despite assurances.
It notes that a 24-hour curfew was imposed on Zangon Kataf and other Local government areas while several villages in the other local government areas where there were no curfew experienced attacks which led to the killing of no fewer than 28 people in less than two weeks.
More frightening according to CAN, “was the way dare devil terrorists herdsmen stormed Kukum Daji in Kaura Local Government Area and unleashed terror on the people at a wedding party that led to the killing of no fewer than 17 people. Many others were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.”
The association equally called on the government to redeem its image by “addressing the constant murders and ethnic war going on in Taraba State, the constant herdsmen’s attack on people of Benue State and the senseless banditry in the Northwest of this country.”
It then called on the government to recruit more hands to help in tackling security issues promising to continue to play its role as a religious organization. “We have never ceased and will never cease from praying for you our leaders to have the courage to put an end to these evils that are giving our beloved country negative image abroad.”
