CAN Urges Security Agencies to Protect Christians in Zamfara

•Threatens to resort to self defense

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked security agencies in the country to secure all churches in Zamfara State from attack by the terrorists.

CAN said the leadership of the security agencies should act immediately in order to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their threats against Christians

CAN asked President Muhammadu Buhari to henceforth sanction any Commissioner of Police or Zonal Police Commanders and the Director of State Security Services wherever kidnappers operate in the country.

It said that the measure would go a long way in reducing the menace as we are approach the Yuletide season.

According to CAN, failure to act appropriately might force it to ask it’s members to embrace defence.

The Christian association said State Police Command had reportedly confirmed that a threat letter was sent to the Christians in the state asking them to stop worship and to close down churches or risk their violent attacks.

It also said it was the Police that informed the state chapter of the association about the threat.

In statement issued on Tuesday by General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Bade Daramola, the Christian body expressed concern over the handling of the nefarious activities of the terrorists.

“The way and manner by which our security agencies have been handling those criminals is totally unacceptable, reprehensible and unprecedented,” he said.

CAN also it was aware that all kidnappings and other criminalities being perpetrated in the north-western part of the country were the handiwork of terrorists who either migrated from the northeast or those who were released under the purported rehabilitation programme of the federal government.

“Now that a Federal High Court has labelled those criminals terrorists, we call on the Police ,the military authorities and other security agencies to rise up to the challenge of the terrorists who have turned kidnappings into the biggest business venture in the geopolitical zone.

“The way and manner by which our security agencies have been handling those criminals is totally unacceptable, reprehensible and unprecedented. Criminals are criminals irrespective of their religious, political and ethnic affiliations and they should be treated as just.

“We also called on the Department of State Security and the Inspector General of Police to Investigate those who are speaking for the terrorists with a view to unmasking their sponsors and beneficiaries of their criminalities,” it said.

CAN said it was worrisome that at a time the leadership of both Christianity and Islam in the country were working together on how to stop their criminalities in the Northwest that the terrorists are trying to introduce divisive ways by declaring war against Christians and church in Zamfara state.

“We have no problem with Islam or with our Muslim brothers and sisters but with the handful fanatics and their financiers who have declared war against Christianity. We appeal to all peace loving Muslims to speak against those who are painting Islam what is not.

“We also called on the federal government to refund all the ransom paid for the release of those who were abducted in the last five years.

“We reiterate our quest for the state Police in order to reduce the security burden on the Federal government controlled Police. The Police has been overwhelmed with the menace of insecurity in the country.

“President Buhari should also direct the Police to arraign all suspected kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in their custody with a view to stopping those who are perpetrating the atrocities.

“Failure to do this will force the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to ask our members to embrace the principle of self- defence wherever the security agencies appeared compromised.