Nigeria’s Christian Association raises nationwide prayer against Fulani herdsmen
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has raised another alarm over what it said are the risks posed to the unity of the country by activities of armed Fulani herdsmen, urging the federal government to exercise necessary power that will clampdown on the killer herdsmen and their promoters.
To this end, CAN declared January 7th as a day of nationwide prayers for victory over the activities of armed Fulani herdsmen.
CAN President, Rev Samson Olasupo Ayokunle in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, noted that in recent times, armed Fulani herdsmen all over the federation have continuously killed innocent farmers with impunity.
He also warned that the situation could degenerate into a civil war, if the bloody killings by herdsmen are not treated as a matter of national importance.
Ayokunle, said though the government has taken battle to several groups that threatened the peace, unity, and security of the nation, it has not demonstrated any concerted effort to nip the ignoble activities of the armed Fulani herdsmen in a bud.
CAN further appealed to the international community to not only speak up against the activities of the killer herdsmen but also come to the aid of victims by providing relief for many in the hospitals and those that are displaced as a result of the attacks.
He said: “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.
“They have killed more people than the Boko Haram sect and almost displaced more people than them. 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, 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 has 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.
“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.
“Our nation can never be great in a state of insecurity and war as we are presently experiencing it. This government owes the entire Nigerians the responsibility of competent action, not just action by words of mouth.”
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