CAN fixes date for protest against killer herdsmen

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has fixed a date for all Nigerian Christians to stage a nationwide protest against wanton killings of Nigerians by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The development was contained in a statement by CAN president, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, released on Wednesday, saying that Christians should on Sunday, April 19, 2018, hold peaceful protests within their church premises nationwide.

The call came a day after herdsmen attacked worshippers at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, and killed two priests and 17 others.

“CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

“Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria.

“The inscriptions on placards could read, ‘Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria,’ ‘Enough of unlawful killings in the country’, ‘FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage,’ ‘FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings,’ CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity,’” Ayokunle said.

He went further to say, “CAN seizes this medium to appeal to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to mount different effective plans aimed towards disarming herdsmen across the northern states and in communities where they have been wreaking havoc across the country in national interest.

“The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and lawlessness.”

READ ALSO: BENUE: Herdsmen sack entire community, slaughter 2 priests, others

He called on Christians to pray for bereaved families of those attacked by the Boko Haram terrorists, armed herdsmen, and other criminals in the past couple of months across the country.

He added, “CAN reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general elections and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voter cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders who could guarantee their security and safety.”

 

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