CONTINUOUS SOUTHERN KADUNA KILLINGS:
CAN Declares Jan. 8 2017, National
Day of Mourning …Over Southern Kaduna Killings
To: All Christians in Nigeria and
Diaspora.
Gentlemen of the Press, I bring you
greetings in the precious name of our Redeemer and Savior
Jesus Christ, Amen. I have been
directed by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A
Ayokunle to bring to your attention the on-going ethnic/religious cleansing of
Nigerian Christians in general and those of southern Kaduna in particular in
the last few weeks.
Though the church in Nigeria since
2009 has been subjected to a systemic genocide and persecution through the
instrumentality of Islamic fundamentalists Boko Haram, leading to the killing
of thousands of Christians and destruction of hundreds of churches, and over
50,000 houses, but the current unprecedented onslaught against Christians in
southern Kaduna by the
Islamic fundamentalists disguising
as the Fulani herdsmen under the watch of Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari has reached an alarming stage.
While we commend President Muhammadu
Buhari for waging war against Boko Haram fundamentalists since his Assumption
of office, his silence over the on-going genocide in the last few weeks speaks
volume over the perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.
The recent defense of the
President’s silence that the President has received briefing from the governor
of Kaduna State over the matter is unacceptable, because the Presidency knows
that the people of the affected area had already protested against the
governor’s unacceptable biased handling of the continuous killings.
Common sense tells anyone that at
that instance, the President has to more directly wade in because lives are
involved. The continuous killings have shown that the Governor of Kaduna
State lacks the will power to arrest
the situation and bring it under effective control.
We know that southern Kaduna has
been under 24-hour curfew daily as directed by the governor, yet the enemies of
the people are still prowling going from house to house killing defenseless people
without government protection.
The security operatives in the area
appear to be turning blind eyes to the killings. They only rush to trouble
spots after the perpetrators of the evils had performed their enterprise of
killings and destruction of houses and farmlands.
CAN has previously drawn attention
to the imbalance in the appointments made in our security
Institutions, hence we re-emphasize
that leadership/ management of security institutions both at
the national and state levels be
reviewed to ensure a balance of Muslim and Christian Representation. Such
balance, will build trust and confidence among all citizens of Nigeria in the
Security empowered to protect our
nation.
We
implore the state and federal government to increase their efforts in putting
an end to these killings and as well ensure that those behind the killings are
brought to book under the laws of our land and those affected to be
compensated.
In view of the present predicament,
the President of CAN has directed that Sunday January 8 2017, should be
declared national day of mourning by Christians including those in Diaspora. We
are to pray fervently for our southern Kaduna brothers and sisters who are
victims of these wanton killings and also for the peace of our dear country
Nigeria.
Therefore, all Christians are to
dress in mourning attire of black clothes or dresses in all our church services
on January 8, 2017. We are to pray that God who delivered the Jews from Haman
should deliver Christians from Hamans in Nigeria.
Not only that, all
celebrations/merriments associated with the New Year are to be done low key in
solidarity with our brethren in southern Kaduna who had lost their lives and
who have been denied the privilege of celebrating the yuletide. An injustice to
one is an injustice to all. Each State Chairman of Christian Association of
Nigeria should also address the press either on the 1st or 8th of
January reading out the contents of this release. May God deliver our Land from
the forces of darkness on rampage in Jesus’ name, amen.
All Christians in Nigeria and on the
global scene should speak against this ethnic/religious cleansing to wake up
the Nigerian security agencies from their deliberate slumber to carry out their
responsibilities.
It is our prayer that the souls of
all those that were slaughtered to rest in perfect peace. We pray that God will
heal the wounds of their loved ones and all those that they left behind, and
that God will strengthen and avenge them in the shortest time possible, for our
God will never abandon or forsake His people.
May we be comforted that help is on
the way, let us completely trust and depend on Him holding on to His promises
for our God is mighty and powerful and He will surely deliver us.
Let me conclude this press statement
by quoting from the poem of the German Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)
during the brutal days of Adolf Hitler who pen down the following words in his
famous poem:
First they
came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was
not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to
speak for me.
Thanks and
God bless you.
Signed:
Rev. Dr. Musa Asake
CAN National General Secretary
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