The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Federal Government to wake up to its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property, saying it won’t keep quiet over insecurity in the country.
It said calling on the government to free its members from their captors who claim to be attacking Christians for religious sake is the right thing to do in the situation it has found itself.
“These criminals are targeting predominant Christian communities, killing, maiming and abducting the people with or without any resistance from the security agencies is unprecedented”, CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said, yesterday.
“Let government wake up to its responsibility and see if we will not stop talking about its failure to protect our members”, Ayokunle said in a statement.
“That is not the politicisation of religion. The governor of Borno State is shouting that soldiers are extorting the people instead of defending them.
“If the government has not been treating those criminals with kid gloves, let them publish the names of the kingpins of the terrorists, herdsmen killers and bandits in their custody and those who are being prosecuted in the court of law for the world to see.
“How many Christians are heading any of the security agencies in the country?
“We are praying for the government on a daily basis but that does not mean where the government is failing we should keep quiet.
“Since Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls have been crying for help, there is nothing on ground to show that the government has been sensitive to their plight.
“The only reason they are in captivity is that they are Christians, no more, no less.
“That government is condemning the terror attacks is not the same thing as stopping the attacks and arresting the criminals responsible or are they telling us they are spirits?
“Telling us to keep quiet is adding salt to our injury.
“Last week, it was Adamawa and on Monday, this week, it was Kaduna State where 41 people were kidnapped!
“As long as the unpleasant situations in the country remain the same the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria will not keep quiet since that is the only thing we can do aside from praying for the captives”.
Meanwhile, the Presidency said, yesterday, politicisation of religion has no place in Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would never tolerate religious rascality in whatever form.
The Presidency also restated its support for Nigerians to practice the religion of their choice.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu said the security agencies are working hard to rescue people held hostage by the Boko Haram insurgents and reunite them with their families.
The Presidency was reacting to calls by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the Federal Government to deploy every available resources for the rescue of all Christians held hostage by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The Presidency said:” The security forces of Nigeria are working continuously to return those taken hostage by Boko Haram to their families, friends, and communities. In doing this, the government has full confidence in their ability to accomplish the task.
“On its own part, the government has condemned some of the appalling acts of terror, especially following the festive period. Yet, to continue to see these happenings solely in religious terms – removed from social, economic and environmental factors – simplifies complexities that must be heeded.
“Not seeing them as they should be is exactly what the terrorists and groups wish: they want Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another.
“On the contrary, Christians and Muslims alike are united in their opposition to Boko Haram and the hatred for decency that the infamous group stands for.
“Nigerians must continue to be united in ensuring that they do not subscribe to the terrorists’ message of division. Unfortunately, some leaders and politicians seek to make political capital from our religious differences.
“As we fight Boko Haram on the ground, so too must we tackle their beliefs: stability and unity in face of their hatred is itself a rejection of their worldview.
“This government shall never tolerate religious intolerance. We clearly and unambiguously restate our support for the freedom to practice whichever belief you wish. The politicisation of religion – as forbidden by the constitution – has no place in Nigeria.”