CAN to Buhari, el-Rufai: Genocide going on in Kaduna

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says President Muhammadu Buhari and Nasir el-Rufai, the Kaduna governor, are both not doing enough to end the “genocidal” killings in the state. 

Herdsmen have been accused for the killings and destruction of property in these communities.

Speaking with journalists, Samson Supo Ayokunle, president of CAN, said their plea for government’s intervention was not about politics or religion but about the value attached to human life.

Ayokunle reminded the government that its first task was to keep its citizens safe.

“Many of them can no longer live in their communities, 32 people were recently given mass burial. Whoever is killed, whether Christian or Muslim, deserve not to be killed in this country,” the CAN president said.

“Is this not Boko Haram in another colour? I want to plead with the government, this is a moment of truth. It is not about politics, religion or ethnicity. It is about the value that is attached to life.

“To keep Nigeria as one is first the task of government before it becomes the task of the citizens. Ethnic and religious cleansing should stop henceforth. Every systematic killing should stop.

“We know the President is trying but that is not enough. You have to do more to save these innocent lives. We are appealing to the federal government and governor El-Rufai, the inspector-general of police, Ibrahim Idris to do their work and let us see and not rhetoric.

“Killings in those communities have continued up till now. Let us not forget that an invitation to aggression depends on the degree of frustration.”

Also speaking, Chawangon Nathan, secretary of CAN, Godogodo zone, said over 102 people have been killed by the Fulani herdsmen.

“Over 102 people have so far been killed with about 215 sustained various degree of injuries. 50, 000 houses burnt in 25 villages, over 10, 000 displaced and over 30, 000 hectares of land destroyed deliberately by Fulani herdsmen within six months,” he said.

“The governor visited only one village once and the impact of that visit is not felt up till today.”