Terrorist group, Boko Haram, has killed the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi.
\nThe news was first broken by journalist, Ahmed Sakilda, on Twitter, yesterday.
\nHe said, \u201cTo break some news items can traumatise. I\u2019m battling with one of such. Reverend Andimi, abducted by Boko Haram was executed yesterday (Monday). Rev. Andimi was a church leader, a father to his children and the community he served. My condolences go to his family.\u201d
\nAndimi, who was declared missing on January 3, 2020, had in a video published on January 5, confirmed that he was in the custody of Boko Haram.
\nAndimi had pleaded with the Adamawa State Government and the CAN leadership to come to his rescue.
\nHe claimed that he was not maltreated by his captors as they were taking good care of him.
\nThe cleric, who spoke in Hausa and English intermittently, urged his family not to be afraid, adding that he would return home safely if it is the will of God.
\nHe said, \u201cI have never been discouraged because everything is in the hands of God. God who made them to take care of me and leave me alive will touch them\u2026 So, I am appealing to fellow reverends, particularly my President, Rev. Joel Billy, who is a strong man of love that he will do his best to speak with our governor and other necessary agents for my release.
\n\u201cThese people (Boko Haram) have been doing well to me. They have been feeding me with what I want to eat, and they provided me with a nice place to sleep, a blanket and everything. So, they have not done anything wrong to me, and I believe that God, who made them to act in such a way, is still alive.
\n\u201cBy the grace of God, I will be together with my wife, children, and colleagues, and if the opportunity has not been granted, then maybe it is the will of God. All well-wishers and colleagues should be patient. Don\u2019t cry, don\u2019t worry but thank God for everything.\u201d
\nHowever, the Adamawa State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed the execution of its Chairman of Michika Local Government Area, Rev Lawan Andimi.
\nThe spokesman for the CAN President, Rev. Bayo Oladeji, confirmed this to newsmen, yesterday.
\n\u201cIt is unfortunate what has happened. A statement will be issued soon,\u201d he said.
\nReacting, the Adamawa State Chairman of CAN, Bishop Dami Mamza also confirmed the incident.
\nThe beheaded church leader served as the Local Council Chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and also a pastor with the Church of the Brethren (EYN) at the District Church Council of Michika.
\nHe was abducted when the insurgent group attacked the town on January 2 around 7:00 p.m.
\nRev. Lawan Andima was 58 years old, married, and the father of nine children.
\nIt was gathered that the Boko Haram sect executed Lawan Andimi, last Monday afternoon weeks after he was declared missing on January 3, 2020.
\nMamza said that the terrorists, who earlier demanded a ransom of \u00a32million, rejected an offer of N50million before they killed him.
\nThe CAN chairman also disclosed that two pastors in the state were killed at the same time.
\nHe, further, called on the Federal Government to wake up to its constitutional obligations.
\nAndimi\u2019s disappearance followed a foiled attack on Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa by Boko Haram.
\nIn a video, Andimi, while pleading with the authorities, commended his captors for treating him well.
\nHe urged his family members to pray for his release, adding that if he is not released, maybe it is the will of God.
\nAlso reacting, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the murder of Rev. Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram.
\nIn a statement, yesterday, the Director of AI Nigeria, Osai Ojigho said the organisation was appalled by reports that the Chairman of a local chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Lawan Andimi, was killed by Boko Haram.
\n\u201cWith this horrific murder, and an increasing number of attacks in recent weeks, Boko Haram has again shown its brazen disregard for the sanctity of life. These deplorable crimes must not go unpunished.
\n\u201cIt is appalling that Boko Haram followed up the killing of Rev. Lawan Andimi on Monday with an attack on his village \u2013 in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State. Targeting civilians is a crime under international law.
\n\u201cBoko Haram must immediately stop its attacks on civilians. All those responsible for war crimes and other human rights violations and abuses in Nigeria must be brought to justice in a fair trial.
\n\u201cThe human rights group has now tasked authorities in Nigeria to re-double their efforts in ensuring the rescue of hundreds of civilians still detained by Boko Haram.
\n\u201cSince December, last year, Boko Haram has been escalating attacks on civilians, commuters, infrastructure and humanitarian facilities across North-East.\u201d
\nAndimi was abducted by Boko Haram when they attacked Michika on January 3.
\nInitially, he was declared missing but later appeared in a video released by Boko Haram, wherein he pleaded with authorities to secure his release.
\nMichaka and some other areas in North-East Nigeria have been repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram.
\nReacting, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle yesterday, described the killing of Adamawa State CAN Chairman, Rev. Lawan Andimi as gruesome, unfortunate and a shame on the federal government.
\nAndimi was abducted by Boko Haram on January 2 when the insurgents stormed the community.
\nAyokunle faulted the security architecture of the country, wondering: \u201cWhat has become of Intelligence gathering of our security agencies? Is this government and the security agencies still claiming that the war against these criminals in religious garments has been won despite all the killings?
\n\u201cIs the government sincere in fighting these terrorists or merely paying lip service to the war against the insurgency? Is there any hope that our security is guaranteed under this government?\u201d
\nA statement issued by the Director, Legal and Public Affairs, CAN, Evangelist Kwamkur Vondip said: \u201cThe President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle and indeed the entire CAN leadership and the Nigerian Church are deeply saddened with the news of the gruesome murder of Rev. Lawan Andimi the CAN Chairman Michika Local Government Area and the District Church Council Secretary of the Ecclesiya Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeia (EYN) Church in Michika, Adamawa State.
\n\u201cWe recall sadly that late Rev. Lawan Andimi while in captivity made a passionate appeal to the leadership of his church and the Federal Government to come to his rescue. The church did everything within her reach to secure the safe release of this pastor gentleman but it was not possible because they didn\u2019t have the military power to do so.
\n\u201cJust last Sunday, a clergyman, Rev Denis Bagauri was murdered by unknown gunmen in his residence at Mayo Belwa of Adamawa State. The church views the unabated kidnappings, extortions and killings of Christians and innocent Nigerians as shameful to the government that each time boasts that it has conquered insurgency\u201d.
\nCAN said it was reprehensible and saddening that each time the government comes out to claim the defeat of the insurgency, more: \u201ckillings of our people are committed. In the light of the current developments and the circumstantial facts surrounding the prevailing upsurge of attacks against the church, it will be difficult for us to believe that the Federal Government under President Mohammadu Buhari is not colluding with the insurgents to exterminate Christians in Nigeria bearing in mind the very questionable leadership of the security sector that has been skewed towards a religion and region!
\n\u201cIs that lopsidedness not a cover up for the operation of the insurgency? If not, why couldn\u2019t the well equipped security agents of Nigeria get this man killed rescued?\u201d
\nThe religious body further urged the federal government to ensure the release of the prisoner of faith, Leah Sharibu and hundreds victims in the Boko Haram and ISWAP captivity before it is too late.
\nCAN said: \u201cA government that cannot protect the governed is a failed government. Can the government tell us what they did since Rev. Andim\u00ec cried out to them for help?
\n\u201cIf the security agencies claim the terrorists are operating outside the country, why is it possible for these hoodlums to invade the country, kill, maim, burn and kidnap without any convincing checks on the part of the security agencies?
\n\u201cSince the government and its apologists are claiming the killings have no religious undertones, why are the terrorists and herdsmen targeting the predominantly Christian communities and Christian leaders?
\n\u201cIf the security agencies are not living up to the expectations of the government, why hasn\u2019t it overhauled them with a view of injecting new visionaries ones into the security system?\u201d
\nCAN said as long as government continues to live in denial and fail to face the reality: \u201cthese criminals will not stop their criminalities. We are almost losing hope in government\u2019s ability to protect Nigerians, especially Christians who have become endangered species under its watch\u201d.
\nAyokunle called on the International community and developed world like the US, the UK, Germany, Israel and others to come to: \u201cour aid of Nigeria, especially, the Nigerian Church so that we might not be eliminated one by one.\u201d
\nHowever, CAN said: \u201cThe President of the Christian Association of Nigeria Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle and indeed the entire CAN leadership and the Nigerian Church are deeply saddened with the news of the gruesome murder of Rev. Lawan Andimi the CAN Chairman Michika Local Government Area and the District Church Council Secretary of the Ecclesiya Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeia (EYN) Church in Michika, Adamawa State.
\n\u201cWe recall sadly that Late Rev. Lawan Andimi while in captivity made a passionate appeal to the leadership of his church and the Federal Government to come to his rescue. The Church did everything within her reach to secure the safe release of this pastor gentleman but it was not possible because they didn\u2019t have the military power to do so.
\n\u201cJust last Sunday, a clergyman, Rev Denis Bagauri was murdered by unknown gunmen in his residence at Mayo Belwa of Adamawa State.
\n\u201cThe Church views the unabated kidnappings, extortions and killings of Christians and innocent Nigerians as shameful to the government that each time boasts that it has conquered insurgency.
\n\u201cCAN deeply sympathises with the immediate family of Late Rev. Andimi, President and members of EYN Church, the government of Adamawa State and the entire Nigeria Church.\u201d
\nCAN also wondered what was the essence of SIM card registration if the authorities cannot use it to track down these killers who rely on phones as a mean of communications to do their criminalities?
\n\u201cWhat has become of Intelligence gathering of our security agencies?
\n\u201cIs this government and the security agencies still claiming that the war against these criminals in religious garments has been won despite all the killings?
\n\u201cIs the government sincere in fighting these terrorists or merely paying lip service to the war against the insurgency?
\n\u201cIs there any hope that our security is guaranteed under this government?
\n\u201cCan the government tell us what they did since Rev. Andim\u00ec cried out to them for help?
\n\u201cIf the security agencies claim the terrorists are operating outside the country, why is it possible for these hoodlums to invade the country, kill, maim, burn and kidnap without any convincing checks on the part of the security agencies?
\n\u201cSince the government and its apologists are claiming the killings have no religious undertones, why are the terrorists and herdsmen targeting the predominantly Christian communities and Christian leaders?
\n\u201cIf the security agencies are not living up to the expectations of the government, why hasn\u2019t it overhauled them with a view of injecting new visionaries ones into the security system? As long as the government continues to live in denial and fail to face the reality, these criminals will not stop their criminalities.
\n\u201cWe once again call on the International community and developed world like the US, the UK, Germany, Israel and others to please come to our aid of Nigeria, especially, the Nigerian Church so that we might not be eliminated one by one.
\n\u201cWe cannot loose hope on divine protection and the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to expose those behind the sponsorship of terrorism in Nigeria and to get Nigeria safe from the arms of the criminals. We shall remain constant and not bow to the antics of terrorists and their sponsors. We know that very soon, God will unmask these ungodly and wicked elements amidst us and their collaborators in Jesus Name.
\n\u201cWe urge all Christians to set three days apart this week to fast and pray for Nigeria.\u201d
\nThe Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Hayab has condemned the killing of the chairman of CAN in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram, saying it\u2019s a \u201csad day for the church in Nigeria.\u201d
\nIn an interview with newsmen, Hayab said it is not enough for the government to \u201ccondemn\u201d the killings but the government must take concrete steps to protect the lives of Nigerians.
\n\u201cThe news of the killing of Rev Andimi by Boko Haram has added to sorrows, pains and suffering that the church is facing in Northern Nigeria. This sad news is coming just a day after our dear President Buhari met with the British Prime Minister.
\n\u201cWhat other evidence do those in authorities in Nigeria want from us to convince them that our members, Pastors and fellow citizens are no longer safe?
\n\u201cWe have said the condemnation of atrocities without any concrete action is not good enough,\u201d he said.
\nThe CAN chairman said people living in the northern part of the country are living in fear of their lives because of the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other security challenges.
\n\u201cHow do you expect a person living in fear to do something meaningful for himself and his country?\u201d he asked.
\nHe added that the killing of the cleric was \u201canother sad day for the Church in Nigeria and for the country at large especially for those who care and value human lives.
\nOur condolences to Rev Andimi\u2019s wife, children and the church in Northern Nigeria. Let us not give up our salvation is near.
\n\u201cWe are calling on the Federal Government and our security agencies to God and to fellow citizens about the state of insecurity. We are praying for divine intervention since no one knows who is the next target\u201d, he said.
\nNevertheless, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the beheading of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Chairman in Adamawa State.
\nReacting to this development, Atiku said the killing was saddened, saying there was a compelling need to re-calibrate the nation\u2019s security architecture.
\n\u201cThis development saddens me. There\u2019s a compelling need to recalibrate our security architecture.
\n\u201cI sympathise with the family of Pastor Lawan Andimi and the entire body of CAN in Nigeria. May the soul of the deceased Rest In Peace\u201d.
\nMeanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari administration has come under attack over the reported execution of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Lawan Andimi.
\nThis was made known, yesterday by a journalist known to have access to Boko Haram, Ahmed Salkida.
\nHis killing has since raised diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media.
\nSome Nigerians called on Buhari to sack service chiefs and stop telling lies about the eradication of Boko Haram.
\nSome of the comments read; @Akeemrahman \u201cSack all the service chiefs now; they are ineffectual and not knowledgeable enough to stop the wanton waste of innocent lives.\u201d
\n@Godday_Parker \u201cWhere are those northerners that said Christians are not being persecuted in Nigeria? It\u2019s time the nation disintegrated. May the blood of these innocent souls being spilled every day be upon all those who contributed to Buhari\u2019s re-elections.\u201d
\n@Godswilluv \u201cAre we to keep suffering this concurrent mayhem just to keep one Nigeria. These Islamic Jihadists have massacred the chairman of CAN in Michika, Adamawa State. Once again I ask is keeping unworkable Nigeria more precious than humanity.\u201d
\n@IkeBright \u201cTomorrow they will come and tell that some repentant Boko Haram members are undergoing rehabilitation.\u201d
\n@Adeoluwa5 \u201cDespite all the calls made. May the Lord grant his family the heart to bear the loss.\u201d
\n@Martinluther_Charles \u201cAnd our president is busy setting Boko Haram prisoners free there is something they are not telling us.\u201d
\n@Felixakponwei \u201cYet there is a pastor as Vice president without any say! Sometimes, we find it very sad to understand the atrocity of the so-called leaders on a disguise as the government of the day. Human blood means nothing to them. If Christians are not careful what happened in turkey years back will repeat itself here in Nigeria. My sincere condolences to the family of the pastor! God we need you in Nigeria more than before, come and wipe away the so-called evildoers in Jesus Name.\u201d
\n@Jahson \u201cSo sorry, so Buhari could not rescue this man, oh! My God, so they have killed this man, and Malami is fighting over the establishment of Amatekun and they cannot provide simple security to Nigerians, may his soul rest in peace.\u201d
\n@PeterIroegbu \u201cYet the security outfit being floated by some regions is being frustrated by the government. I guess their preference is that we all have our throats slit in our sleep. Nigerians wake up and learn!\u2026the danger is much closer than we think, evil under the guise of government.\u201d
\n@King Saldee \u201cThis is barbaric, after I watched his video praising how they treated him and calling for stakeholders to pay his rescue no one did something about, later the hypocrites in authority will start lamenting how they put in the effort to rescue him with made-up stories!
\n@AllenEke \u201cAny government that failed to secure the life of her citizens should be asked to resign. What are we waiting for?
\n@AliSubi \u201cWe thank God that the clergyman held on to his faith. He hasn\u2019t denounced his faith. We sympathize with his family and the entire Christian community in Adamawa State.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Terrorist group, Boko Haram, has killed the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi. The news was first broken by journalist, Ahmed Sakilda, on Twitter, yesterday. He said, \u201cTo break some news items can traumatise. I\u2019m battling with one of such. Reverend Andimi, abducted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":225412,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,26],"tags":[688],"class_list":["post-225399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-front-pix","tag-front-pix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=225399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/225412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=225399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=225399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=225399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}