The
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the failure of the
security agencies to arrest and bring to book those responsible for the
killings in the Southern Kaduna is the reason why the crisis remains
endless and charges them to wake up to their responsibilities.
Despite
the curfew and the presence of the Police and other security agencies
in the volatile zone, the killings remain unabated and CAN called on its
members to continue praying for the permanent restoration of peace in
the area.
Speaking
at the just concluded meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC)
of the Christian umbrella body held in Abuja, the CAN President, his
eminence, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, could not hide his
disappointment in the unending killings and the treatment of those
responsible with kid gloves.
“All
of us should organize prayers again and if possible with fasting to
seek the intervention of God so that this senseless destruction of human
beings might stop. I think what has encouraged this type of carnage in
Southern Kaduna is the inability of the law enforcement agents to
apprehend the criminals responsible for these killings and if they were
apprehended at all, they were not conclusively prosecuted.
“We
have had these days more often than not, the law enforcement agents
saying that the criminals are ‘unknown gun men.’ Whose duty is it to
know them? It is not the law enforcement agents?”
Speaking
further, Ayokunle disclosed the plan being made by the National
Secretariat of CAN to provide relief materials for the victims of the
carnage in both Southern Kaduna and the Agatu community in Benue State.
“We
are planning to visit Southern Kaduna to distribute relief materials to
the victims of the massacre there. We planned to do this earlier and
chose date but we couldn’t go because we received security report that
it was not safe to do so. We would equally visit the Agatu community in
Benue State to distribute relief materials.”
The
CAN President also charged its members not to cease praying for
President Muhammadu Buhari, the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and
a quick recovery of the economy from the recession to relief the
populace who are under its consequences.
Said
he, “I urge all of us to be praying for the President of our country,
President Muhammadu Buhari who is sick and is out of the country for
treatment; we had twice released our pleas for prayers for him. It is
our spiritual and legitimate duty as people of God. We should also pray
for the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo that God might guide
him aright this time when he acts for his principal.
“We
should organize prayers, if possible vigil at every state secretariat
of CAN to pray for our country at a chosen date and that the FCT CAN
should come to the national secretariat for their own. In each centre,
the governor of the state or his representative should be invited to
such prayer meeting”.
On
the economic recession, Ayokunle noted, “With the way our economy is
going and violence is increasing without much answer from the law
enforcement agents, we need divine intervention.”
CAN
also notes with dismay the destruction of church building in some parts
of the country while the law enforcement agents seemed powerless.
“Churches
were destroyed in states like Jigawa on the excuse that they did not
get building permit whereas they had applied for many years without
being given the permit. Recently, a Redeemed Christian Church of God was
burnt down in Dei- Dei, here in Abuja very early in the morning. What
shall we do to these continuous provocations without any visible action
by the law enforcement agents?”
CAN
calls on all and sundry to support CAN TRUST FUND because “it is the
answer to the paucity of funds for operation in CAN” reminding them that
without sufficient fund, the CAN leadership might not be able to
discharge all the constitutional responsibilities including the Save Our
Souls cry from its members.
The
well attended meeting by all the principal officers, national officers,
zonal and state leaders prayed for the unity of the body of Christ and
the country including President Buhari and the government at all
levels.
Signed...
PASTOR BAYO OLADEJI
Special Assistant (Media and Communications)
To CAN President. Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle
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