CAN Promises To Fight Back, if…

The national leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has charged the Federal Government to rise to the challenge of checking the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect, warning that if the killing of Christians by the sect persists, they would be left with no option than to defend themselves.

CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who led other clerics to a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Villa, scored the Federal Government low on its response to the Boko Haram menace and said its anxiety was heightened by the statement of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi that government was being overwhelmed by the security challenge.

President Jonathan had on Tuesday met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa”ad Abubakar III, after which the latter publicly denounced the Boko Haram sect whom he described as evil people.

The Christian community, Oritsejafor disclosed, was fast losing confidence on the ability of the Federal Government to tame the Boko Haram monster, warning that the consequences of government’s inaction was grave to the country.

“The Christian community is fast losing confidence in government’s ability to protect our rights to religious liberties and life. The consensus is that the Christian community nationwide would be left with no other option than to respond appropriately if there are any further attacks on our members, churches and properties”, he lamented.

He expressed disgust that despite the huge human loss recorded as a result of the Christmas Day bombings, the security agencies were yet to make any high profile arrest.

Oritsejafor, accused Muslim clerics of abdication of responsibility in not being able to call their members to order, adding that their often public criticism of the sect was hypocritical.

“Having reviewed the trend and frequency with which these terror crimes occur, it fits into the profile of Islamic Jihad over the years on the Christian community, which properly contextualised, is considered as a declaration of war on Christians and Nigeria as an entity.

“CAN has found the responses of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and other Islamic bodies on this matter to be unacceptable and abdication of their responsibilities over their extremist members. It is on record that most religious, traditional and political leaders in the North have not come out to openly condemn the extremist activities of Boko Haram. We hold them responsible for what is happening, because they have not taken concrete steps to check the excesses of their members”, he added.

Responding, the President assured that he would soon overhaul the nation’s security apparatus in response to the emerging challenges, which he said was a novel introduction in organized violence.

Describing the Boko Haram menace as a collective attack against the entire country, the president stated that the act of terrorism was pervasive in nature and hence could occur in any part of the country.

“This terror attack is new to us, but I can assure you that we are doing our best to make sure that we get over it. Other countries that have experienced it are also helping us. Both African and non-African countries that have suffered attacks are assisting,” he assured.