Kaduna Killing: Punish perpetrators – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for a severe punishment for the perpetrators of the violence in Kaduna and other States of the Federation where similar crisis occurred.

The leadership of CAN made the call on Sunday saying that both the Federal and the Kaduna state government should rise up to the challenge of checkmating past killings in the state with a view to bringing masterminds to book.

The Christian Association also noted that it is shocking, disappointed and sad that two weeks of tragedy and disaster which had led to the killing of a paramount ruler, the Agom Adara, Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima forcing the State Government to reinstate a 24-hour curfew last Friday in Kaduna metropolis and environs, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, Kateri and Kachia.

The Agom Adara was attacked and kidnapped on Friday, 19th October, 2018, along with his wife who was released the next day with his Police escort, driver and three others not too lucky as they were killed at the scene of the abduction carried out by no fewer than a dozen of bandits which later led to a bloody violence in the area.

It is believed that about 100 lives have been lost in the chaos between Thursday and Monday last week, but the Police and the State Emergency Management Agency have reportedly put the number of the death to about 78.

In a press release on Monday made available to the Daily Times signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle said: “CAN commiserates with the government and the people of Kaduna State, especially the Adara Chiefdom over the tragedy and pray to God to comfort all the bereaved and heal those who are recuperating in the hospitals and homes.

“We are surprised to note the unending killings in the country, especially the response of the Federal and State governments with the security agencies to the menace.

“We have it on a good authority the killings going on in Adamawa, Benue and Plateau states in the last two years have been going unchecked as if nothing unusual is happening. Many were even unreported. This is a sad commentary on the part of the government. Has Nigeria become a lawless state with the hoodlums better equipped and more organized by our security agencies; Are the security operatives compromised; this is reprehensible.

“We ask the political class to stop politicizing the orgy of killings and, both state and Federal Governments to stop rationalizing the mass killings of innocent Nigerians and sanction those responsible for this horrifying bloodshed”, the statement said.

The association while commending the state government for reviewing the curfew this Sunday afternoon for people to access food and other items added; “we once again reiterate our calling for a total overhauling of our security agencies with a view to replacing all the security chiefs and implement all the White papers on ethno-religious uprisings in the recent past and to immediately try those apprehended for the killings in Southern Kaduna two years ago.

“Also, to prosecute those responsible for the unending killings in the North Central zone and Governments should stop handling the killers in our midst with kid gloves.

Payment of adequate compensations should be extended to all the bereaved and victims of the ethno-religious conflicts in the last five years and Government should recover all the lands and villages illegally occupied by the hoodlums and criminals in the North Central.

“As we approach another general election, all hands must be on deck to restore peace and sanity to all the trouble spots in the country. Enough is enough, CAN solicits the support of the media in making this known to the public as we appreciate their usual support and understanding”, CAN noted.