James Sowole in Akure, John Shiklam in Kaduna and Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had described the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari on the massacre of mainly Christians in the Southern Kaduna by herdsmen as mere rhetoric that cannot solve the problem.
The president had last week, after many complaints on the silence of the federal government on the killings of over 1,000 persons in the Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, directed security agencies to put an end to the incident.
But speaking with journalists late last Sunday after the end of the prayer session on the fasting and mourning over the massacre, the Ondo State Chairman of CAN, Reverend John Ayo Oladapo, said there was nothing new in the president’s directive.
In a latest development on the killings, the Council of Imams and Ulamas, an umbrella body for Muslim clerics in Kaduna State, yesterday called for the arrest and prosecution of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasopu Ayojunle; the Senator representing Southern Kaduna senatorial zone, Senator Danjuma Laah, a House of Representative member from the Southern Kaduna, Hon. Sunday Marshal Katung, and Dr. John Danfulani for allegedly instigating the crisis in Southern Kaduna.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, Chairman of the Islamic clerics, Sheikh Abubakar Babantune, maintained that the inflammatory statements alleged made by the CAN president and others instigated the crisis, even though it is widely believed that the crisis in the Southern Kaduna was caused by the mindless killings and destruction of property by armed men believed to be Fulani herdsmen.
Babantune also accused the Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, and the leadership of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) for the crisis, adding that they will support any legal step by the federal and the state governments to deal with any individual or group of persons with the intention of causing further disturbances or breach of peace in the state.
“In the last one year or so, Kaduna State has not been in peace resulting from the activities of some mischief makers and the reckless utterances of southern Kaduna political and religious leaders,” Babantune stated.
However, the Ondo State Chairman of CAN said: “The situation on ground on the activities of criminals under the disguise of herdsmen has gone beyond mere issuing of directive which came after many days after the incident.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State chapter of CAN has joined in the call on the federal government’s “to as a matter of urgency, stop the wanton killings in Southern Kaduna” saying: “Prayers cannot be answered if innocent blood is being shed across the country.”
The state Chairman of the association, Pastor Mathias Echioda, made the call last Sunday evening at the end of one week of prayers by all Christians for the peace, progress and development of the country at the St Peters Cathedral Minna.
The association asked the President Buhari-led government “to improve in the area of security because innocent lives are being lost across the country daily.”
Echioda who made the call also said if government could send security men to maintain peace in other parts of the world, it should also ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerians.
According to him “We are praying for the government to act fast on our brethren who have been kidnapped, adopted, savagely maimed and killed by the insurgence in ravaged States, most recently the southern Kaduna Christians.”
In the interim, and as a way of controlling the activities of herdsmen, Ondo State CAN leader, Oladapo, however suggested that state governments should emulate the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, who caused the state House of Assembly to make law to control grazing of animals in the state.
The CAN Chairman said rearing of animals is a business, and people whose farmlands and crops are destroyed are also out to make a living from their farms, therefore, one business should not disturb the other.
Specifically, the cleric called on the incoming Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, to take the issue with all seriousness and make law on grazing.
Oladapo said the legal team of the CAN at the national level is putting something together to address the issue of herdsmen legally.
