By Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to act decisively on the rampaging herdsmen who are allegedly massacring innocent Nigerians before the situation degenerates into a civil war.
The Christian body said the country can never be great in a state of insecurity and war as presently being experienced.
Samson Ayokunle, President of CAN in a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Oladeji, his Special Assitant on Media, lamented that the herdsmen have killed more people than the Boko Haram sect and almost displaced more people than them.
He stated: “We in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) are forced to make this press release on the continuous inhuman and wicked activities of the Fulani herdsmen all over the federation who are going from community to community killing innocent farmers with impunity.
“We are now reaching a breaking point in our patience and toleration of this wicked impunity before degenerating to a civil war.
“While the government has taken the battle to Boko Haram terrorists, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Badoo boys, the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups, the government has not shown any serious willingness to checkmate the murderous Fulani Herdsmen. This to us is a betrayal of the confidence reposed in this government by Nigerians when they voted them into power.
“Similarly, the government has failed to uphold the constitution which they swore to uphold because they have failed in protecting Nigerians from the attacks of Fulani Herdsmen in the affected areas. If they continue to allow Fulani herdsmen to be having a field day in killing people like this, is it not the Fulanis alone that would remain that they would be governing? God forbid.
“We need to know why the intelligence units of all security apparatus we have in this country have not been able to discover the sources of supply of ammunition to Fulani herdsmen living virtually in the bush.
“The Customs and the Immigration services together with the Police have case to answer. Who are the suppliers of these weapons? If the murderous herdsmen are foreigners, as it is being claimed in some quarters, why did we allow dangerous foreigners into our country to come and kill us? Our government has a case to answer too.
“We are therefore tasking the government of the day; the Executive, the Senate, the House of Representatives and all security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities and we equally call on all stake holders in this nation together for a solemn assembly that would address all these things and come out with lasting solution to these senseless attacks.
“The international community cannot afford to be watching us without lending a voice to our cries to our government to checkmate the murderous Fulani herdsmen who appear not to care about the future of this nation.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is further appealing to the international community to come to our aid by providing relief for many in the hospitals and those that are displaced as a result of these attacks.
“We urge all churches to set aside time this coming Sunday, January 7, to pray for Nigeria and for victory over the wicked killings of Fulani Herdsmen. This government owes the entire Nigerians the responsibility of competent action, not just action by words of mouth.”
